Okay, I know there are plenty of the crafty type here on this Board-- I need some assistance!
There is a program this summer with my school that I am DYING to do. 10 days in the Galapagos doing field study. I’ve wanted to go there for a really long time, and since the islands are pretty hard to get to for normal people (i.e. non-students or non-professionals or non-Bill Gates) I really want to go. It would be no problem because my parents understand my wanderlust.. EXCEPT that it’s expensive. Really expensive. Lots of financial aid is available, but I probably wouldn’t qualify for much of it. May I add that my school isn’t exactly cheap, so the budget is kind of tight right now.
So. What are some good arguments for my cause I can use on my parents when I go home this weekend?
I understand perfectly and I sympathize with you.
Unfortunately, the best argument for you to use would be to tell them about the wonderful job you just found to offset the cost.
Actually, the trip is for the 10 days right after school ends, so I could work for the entire summer to help make up for it. I was planning to work anyway.
As a student myself, I definatly can feel your pain. The number one thing I think you should do though is make absolutely sure you can get every single frick’n cent squeezed from the government as you possibly can. Second, see were you can cut corners (im assuming you’ve got some kind of income flow) so you can funnel that excess towards your trip. Honestly, your trip will feel much better when you know you made it there yourself. If it comes down to getting money from the parents, you should outline
- why you want to go (besides “its really cool”)
- how it will enlighten you or expand your horizons
- if theres any benifits that would help you in the future (specific training for the field you want to go into for example)
- If this will help you reach a serious goal in your life, definatly talk about that
- sound intelligent, and avoid being demanding
thats as much help as I can give you, hope its useful
if you want to go that badly, start working right now on a way to pay for it yourself. That’s an awful lot to ask your parents to pay for, on top of your college bills. College is just frightfully expensive. I honestly don’t know how anyone who isn’t Bill Gates can afford to send a child even to a state university these days (and even then, the amount of debt most college students are in by the time they graduate is appalling). Is this trip really necessary for your education? If not, perhaps the best thing to do would be to resolve to do it some other time, and let it go for now. It’s not THAT impossible to visit the Galapagos…if it matters that much to you, there WILL be other chances.
Redwolf
Got any whistles you want to sell? 
Actually, you might consider selling some old stuff on eBay-- it’s astounding the stuff that people will buy there!
Good luck-- the Galapagos sound astoundingly fascinating. As a Bio major in college I took a 3 week course before my Senior year at the biological station in Bermuda, and it was one of the most memorable experiences of my academic life (yes, we DID work!)
Sara
I’m trying to find a way to say this that won’t be too critical. It just seems to me that the above statement SOUNDS incredibly selfish. Your family, possibly including your siblings if there are any, are already sacrificing to keep you in your school and provide for you. While acknowleding that, you are saying “help me find a way to get them to give me even more.”
The Galapagos are a fascinating place and one I’ve personally always longed to visit, so I see why it attracts you. OTOH, they’ve been there for millions of years and especially for the 150 or so since Darwin’s voyage. They’ll still be there in a couple of years when you’re out and self-supporting. Then, it’ll be YOUR tight budget to squeeze more out of to make the trip.
I know your’re asking us to be supportive, but speaking from the POV of someone who had to find every cent of college costs without parental help, it really seems to me that you should be telling them “thanks” and not “gimme”.
Hear, Hear! As a parent that is going broke with college expenses, I concur! When you have the money saved, go.
Dana (Who isn’t feeling compassionate right now, sorry)
I don’t see how it would hurt to discuss it with your parents. However, I would suggest that you tell them how much you appreciate the sacrifice which they are making for you already and that you will understand if the answer is ‘no.’ (It has always seemed to me that you are one of the nicer, more thoughtful C&Fers, and I doubt that you would intentionally be inconsiderate of your parents.)
Thanks, guys, for all the advice.
In response to the last few posts… well, I can see why you would think those things, but please remember that you don’t know everything about me–only what you know from what I told you in this post. I worked hard in high school, enough to get almost half of my tuition payed for. Plus my parents had alot of money saved for the purpose of college-- I promise I’m not causing my family to starve or anything. My sister is still able to do the Outward Bound course she wants to this summer. We’re getting parts of our house repainted and newly furnished. There is enough money to go around, enough for this trip, it’s just a matter of convincing them that it would be worth the expense.
As for working to pay for things myself, the truth of the matter is that my parents wouldn’t LET me work in high school. I’m serious. They told me I wasn’t allowed to get a job. And they don’t even want me to work my first year at college, but I’m going to get a job next semester anyway.
This trip would not be a vacation. It would be a serious academic thing–with the added bonus of taking place in one of the coolest places on earth. I want to do Environmental Studies most likely, so it would be a good contribution to that.
Again, I understand why you would make those assumptions of "selfish"ness… but it’s never a great idea to jump to conclusions. They’re usually wrong.
Thanks to everyone who has helped so far!
EDIT: Thanks Ridseard. Of course, I’ll let them know I understand if they say no, and tell them again how very much I appreciate all they’ve done. I tell them that same thing every weekend, lol. They didn’t have to let me go to such an expensive school, but this is where I wanted to go, and they didn’t hesitate. For that I can’t be grateful enough.
It sounds to me like they’ll probably go for it. Since they’d saved money already for your college and there’s enough to go around to where they wouldn’t let you work, they’re interested in your development and education. And since you met them halfway by getting scholarship money, they know you’re a serious student, and they’ll realize this trip isn’t spring break in Florida. Just present your case logically as you did here, and I don’t think they’ll say no, especially since it’s academic and pertinent to what you want to do as a career. Good luck!
Hmm, if this hasn’t been mentioned before, how are your grades? If they could be improved, improve them, and point it out.
Judging from your words, it looks like this is not the first time that you have hit your parents up for something that you deem quite important. You parents also know this. So when you make the big move, give them DETAILS. It helps.
that should work. if not, then there is nothing that you can do really.
It appears to be that your parents are willing to provide for you for a good cause so I will go with Switchfoots advice. There is always the possibility that you can work out a loan arrangement to be paid in the future when you are able.
As a 2x married step-parent on my 2nd set of step-kids, I heartily agree with a number of the other posts. My step-son is well provided for too, and we are refurnishing our house, but he doesnt see the 2nd mortgages and debt we are temporarily accumulating to make ends meet for all. If your parents are in a position to accommodate without hardship, then I see no reason to at least ask.
I truly respect the fact that you took the time to listen to some adverse opinions and respond with equal candor. Take that atttitude with you this weekend.
Good luck
Smoot
Ross: Not sure where the grades are exactly at right now, but I have to maintain at least a 3.3 to stay in the Honors Program, so it’s somewhere above that. I had thought of suggesting they set a GPA for me that I’d have to stick to all year in order to go.
Smoot: A loan agreement would definitly be in order, I did the same thing for my Outward Bound trip a couple summers ago. (Which I payed off with babysitting money. Boy did that take awhile!) And thanks for the (step)parents’ perspective, I do need to remember that just because things are okay now doesn’t mean that debt isn’t piling up.