Okay, so, my girlfriend/good friend made it into four schools for
college.  Two of them are local colleges that are okay (LC), one was a
saftey school and the other is Boston Conservitory (BC) - which she
"REALLY REALLY WANTS TO GO TO."  Unfortunitly, she is backed up
against a money wall.  If she goes to BC she has to pay $150,000 that
she or her married parents don't have.  If she goes to LC, most of her
education is paid for through recoprocity and "we want you to go here
and not somewhere with more of a reputation" scholorships.  She is a
white female from a family that makes just barely too much money to
qualify for anything money based (I don't know numbers, but 95% + of
her financial aid is scholastic based).  Anyhoo, I didn't get to go to
my first choice of schools because I became very ill and I know how
important it is to go where you want regardless of money.  Her family
refuses to take on significant debt for her education.  I told her
that I would see what I can find out her options for financial aid
because right now she thinks it's hopeless.  Assume she has to take on
all of the debt herself.  She lives in Minnesota.  She has a good GPA
(A-, I think).  She is going for singing.  I am not looking for a
compleated, comprehensive financial aid plan.  I am looking for enough
to allow her to believe that she can do this and to point her in the
right direction for how she can do this "on her own".

3-31-2004

You haven't mentioned what efforts SHE has put forth to try to find
funding.  IS she searching the WEB for scholarships?  Does she intend
to apply for grants?
Has she talked with any of the financial aid departments at the
schools she plans to attend to see what help they could offer?

She should put her plans on hold for going to the $150,000
conservatory since she obviously can't go there at this time and
attend wherever she can.  But if she eventually wants to attend the
expensive conservatory for professional development/advancement of her
career, she should talk to alumni of the school and to music teachers
in her own area to get ideas for financing--sometimes prominent
affluent individuals will support someone like her if her talent is
exceptional.  Good luck with the search and you are very kind to help
her in this way.

SINCERELY,
KEITH (I'm NOT a GOOGLE Researcher)