Got accepted into a prestigious boarding school & dad says i cant go?

I worked my butt off all year to keep a 3.8 average all year in honors classes, did out of school volunteer work, and studied for months to pass an admissions test. All year, I've been working on getting into this school (a college prep school in the east) so I could get into a good college. I got accepted into the school early this year ( Mar) and after some financial aid issues, the school offered to help out a little more with the expenses. It's the end of the school year at the public school I'm at now and there's 2 months before I'm supposed to be moving to that school. Suddenly, my dad (who never really lives with us, or helps financially with anything involving the family) called from out of the country and argued, saying that I can't go. Early in the year when I was applying, he supported the decision.

My mom is backing him, saying he has a legal right to stop me from going even though he's not listed in any of the papers we filed. She says i shouldn't "rebel".

I go a large school with 35-40 kids in a class. If i need some extra help, it's rare that I'll get it. The school I'm accepted to has less than 200 and teaches more conversationally so the course work is more enjoyable. I'm bored like hell with this public school and would get more of a challenge there.

What should I do? It's pretty hard to talk to him seeing as he believes "his word is final." This is my future he's denying, I can't get anywhere going to a small town community college!

Try and talk, convince him argue do anything and everything you can. So what if he is hard to argue with? Your alternative is do nothing and let this oppurtunity slip by. if you try to reason with him at least your making some kind of an attempt at going to the school.
P.S. I Just realised, If he does not live with you and does not contribute financially it might actually be impossible for him to stop you going. I mean if he was never paying for it to begin with how can he stiop you going?

Don't let anybody control YOUR future. It's YOUR life
(Yes I am strongly emphasizing that particular word)
You have to do what you want, not what somebody else wants. No matter who it is. Don't make the mistake of living a life somebody shose for you and hating it.

Just keeping talking to your mom and tell her how it will really help your future be successful if you go to this school. Just keep working on her is all you can do. Plus, if your of legal age, they can't stop you. Good luck.

Are you financially stable? Are you 17 or older?

GO.

I'm very sorry. Can you find out for sure if he does have joint custody? That's the most common way he could have a vote.

Why not work on your mother? Are there other adults she respects that you can have speak with her? Aunts, teachers, etc. Sometimes you can embarass a parent into changing their mind. In 1964 I was in the identical position you're in -- I went to see our Church pastor and he talked the parents into allowing me to go.

How much cash do your parents have to spend on tuition, books, etc? Also, don't forget donations. Tuition typically only covers about 80% of the actual expenses and most private/boarding school families understand that and try to pay towards it.

It may be with this economy that your parents just can't afford it. Also, even if you got a *full ride*, parents may feel obligated to donate heavily to cover the true cost of the education, then there is transportation, books, etc. Also, what happens if you don't get financial aid next year?

Being dramatic and saying you'll end up at a community college won't convince your parents. Lots of people from small towns end up at Ivy League colleges from public schools, like my dh. (My dh does admissions interviews of local applicants to his Ivy alma mater.)

Calmly ask your parents why they have changed their mind since you applied. If it's financial, there is nothing you can do, unfortunately.

Good luck!