While it isn’t ideal that you didn’t know ahead of time that finances are important, I can guarantee you that there are many kids who end up going to the school their family can best afford which is not necessarily their dream school. My advice is talk to your mother and find out which school options she would like you to choose from (if there is a choice) and start there. A school does not need to have a big name to get an excellent education so go in with an open mind and you may end up very happy you went there. My daughter did not get to give serious consideration to a few schools she applied to that in the end were out of our price range - it happens.