The honors program at our flagship state school is our ultimate safety. I’m totally at peace with borrowing against our house or taking out other loans to meet our EFC for the right school.
My kid:
4.0 uw GPA, took nearly all the AP and honors classes available
SAT: 1400. May retake. Dream school is test blind.
EC: Deeply involved in theater, including being in a troupe that has won adjudications in national competitions. Varsity athlete in 2 sports. Involvement in student political groups.
Other: From a rural state that is often not well represented. Would like to do sports in college. Probably good enough to walk on at the dream school, but unlikely to be a recruited athlete.