<p>I agree that Amherst and many comparable private LACs are very generous with need based financial aid and in general, make it possible for any accepted student to attend. I also believe that families should be willing to sacrifice if they want to send their kid to an expensive private school. BUT clearly the middle class bears the biggest burden at expensive schools like Amherst - low income families can pay nothing and high income families can pay full freight with no real sacrifice to their spending or lifestyle.</p>