<p>“As competitive as things are nowadays, some working families have to go with the best offer.”</p>
<p>Not just working families. Some well to do parents will look at the price sticker and that’s the end of the story. Off goes the kid to Full Ride U in the back of the parent’s (new) Lexus. It is VERY important to determine, at an early stage of the game, some idea of how much your family is ABLE to spend, as well as how much they are WILLING to spend. It is fine to apply to some reach schools with big endowments (but single-digit acceptance rates), but you do need less competitve, <em>financial</em> safeties in the mix.</p>