First criteria for college/university selection?

[Marian]

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One should start the college selection process with, “what can I afford?” and go from there. Once one has a list of affordable alternatives then there’s clearly no harm in playing the FA lottery.

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<p>This sounds like a good idea. I would only add that there should be an academic safety on the “affordable” list. Otherwise, the student might end up being accepted only at unaffordable schools.</p>