High School Student Turns to Web for College Expenses
Rachel Harris, a 17-year-old high school student, has placed her educational future in the hands of strangers. The Muskegon, Michigan senior hopes to attend the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, next year, but the daunting $46,000 annual price tag creates a significant dilemma. Ms. Harris sports a 3.97 grade point average and ranks 10th in her class, but even after submitting at least 10 scholarship applications, she told the Associated Press (AP) "the only thing that is keeping me from possibly going is the financial aspect to it."
Inspired by President Obama and his campaign for the White House, or, more specifically, the $600 million he raised thanks in part to Internet donations, Harris decided to turn to the Web to drum up support for her own university campaign. She launched a Web site, iwanttogotonotredame.com, through which people can donate money to help her achieve her goal.
One thing we didn't notice while perusing the site was any mention of employment, although in this economy you can't really hold that against her. At least she's being honest, and not claiming to be the missing daughter of a Nigerian prince who needs help claiming her inheritance.
So, take a look at her site, and afterward, if you're still feeling the spirit of giving, check back with us in a few days. We're beginning construction on our own site, and even though we haven't settled on a name yet, we're working on procuring the rights to wewanttogotothecaribbean. [From: AP/FOXNews.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Nick said 3:37PM on 3-22-2009
Surely she jests-why would anyone want to finance her education (especially when there are millions of other kids in her same position-we can't help 'em all, can we?) It's called 'get a job, and take out loans', honey...that's what I'm doing.
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maty said 4:51AM on 3-19-2009
The whole concept is alien to us across the pond - paying those sorts of fees for university I mean.
In England and Wales it's capped at just over £3,000 as to what we have to pay per year for tuition, the government pays the rest - creating a level-playing field for all universities. And that £3,000 is a loan which is paid back when you've graduated, and only the 5% difference above £15,000 (so you'd pay 5% of £5,000 a year iif you earned £20,000). The only interest is base-rate interest.
In Scotland, its even better - its free.
Well good luck to her, I'm a prro student too, I can't spare a penny myself, $46k is mad!
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rubym said 6:25PM on 3-22-2009
don't knock her. scholarships are crap. getting a minimum wage job gets you on the fast track to nowhere. it's survival at best, but depending on your schedule, you'll never be able to attend classes- and if you're on FA (that is if IF you qualify) you need to keep up your GPA. a loan she might not even be able to qualify for if you or your family's credit is in the toilet. i should know- mine is. i had ONE card, DIDN'T go crazy, kept up my full payments every month, went up to 'A' rating (it went to platinum in NO TIME), and my interest was nearly non-existent. then i ran into rut and had to charge my 5k tuition (at piece of shite community college) and everything was fine, made my minimum payments every month until dad could pay me back the 9k in rent I GAVE HIM that would cover the round about 4k i had left on the bill. when mom began divorce proceedings, he screwed me and wouldn't give me back a penny. the banks merged, my interest skyrocketed and lost my minimum wage job and my credit crashed and burned. while i don't qualify for a loan in satan's bank, the fed could give me a loan that would take me 20 years to pay off. good luck in your notre dame dream kid, i know my columbia one is well and truly dead.
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tchotchkegirl said 1:05PM on 5-28-2009
She set up this website BEFORE she was ACCEPTED, and now, she DID NOT GET IN, but she got more than $5,000. in donations that she is now returning.
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