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My father has been talking with his brothers/family (few of which I've met) about the universities I've been looking into.

He's still convinced that my best bet is to get a degree in Medicine as a first degree (even if I have no intention of becoming a doctor) and then getting a second degree in whichever field interests me. This is the cheapest option (short range).

He also keeps bringing up that I have no "experience in the real world", that I've never lived alone, etc, etc. I think that's pretty much standard for straight-out-of-high-school freshmen and I'm getting pretty damn tired of hearing it. It's also the worst possible excuse for suggesting I stay home even longer.

An uncle has offered to let me stay with his family for a year, go to a community college close by, and re-apply as a transfer student to a different selection of schools. He doesn't seem too impressed by Rensselaer and I think he believes I should aim higher. (Not, perhaps, as high as the ivy leagues). The idea is that I spend a year getting good grades, playing sports (Fencing! Archery!) and just generally making a good impression to later "move up" school-wise. Also getting used to cold weather. Here, again, I would do just as well staying where I am for the rest of this year.

Choices, choices.

RPI Acceptance

Accepted at RPI. Major of Choice: Aeronautical Engineering.

They gave me some financial aid, but without the ROTC Scholarship it won't be enough. It's actually more complicated than that. I can pay the first year reasonably, and apply for AFROTC again once I'm in the first year of college. However, if I don't get it again, then I really kind of have to drop out. I could take out an incredible amount of loans and graduate with a lot of debt and start my career already God-knows-how-much-money behind.

More on ROTC on the next post.