<p>Here’s another tactic that appears to have worked for us without our knowing it: allow, or even encourage, your child to apply to schools far away, or not as well known, or that are lacking in current students from your area of the country or with some characteristic or talent your child possesses. We have recently been stunned to find my son has received an offer of $20,000 a year in merit money to attend a college that would be great for him, but which most CC’ers probably never heard of. He is a bright young man with decent test scores but not-great GPA, and is ready to become part of a school where he may be one of only 2 students from our state, because they want him so badly they are offering him extraordinary aid and treating him like a prince. They are helping him feel right at home.</p>
<p>We have saved heavily since our children were each 2 weeks old, when I began having money for US Savings Bonds for them withheld from my paychecks. We have always funded their “college accounts” regularly, and feel blessed to be in a situation where we can afford to pay for their undergraduate educations. I am humbled and pleased to be able to offer this gift to my children. But because we encouraged our son to look far afield, he was rewarded with an offer we never expected. </p>
<p>Our kid may be “able to go to school for next to nothing”, because we didn’t look for prestige and we encouraged him to look with open eyes. I offer this as another strategy for those who are feeling it is unfair that they are asked to pay for their children’s college costs. Opportunities abound if you are willing to look for and accept them.</p>