You have some choices to make here. This comment makes NO sense. If you are not in the upper %ile for these “prestige schools” your chances of acceptance are even smaller than the 10% acceptance rate these schools publish.
And many give NO merit aid at all.
And most cost in the $65,000 a year plus range.
So…you need to find out what your parents really will pay for you to go to college. Then you need to cast a broad net of applications to colleges where you will actually be able to afford attend if accepted.
Every college has a Net Price Calculator. Start there… but plug in ACCURATE financial information. See what the net costs would be for you with a $200,000 a year income. Don’t be surprised if your net costs exceed $50,000 a year.
There are plenty of good colleges that do NOT cost $60,000 plus a year. You need to find them.
Let’s put it this way…an acceptance to a prestige school with no way to pay for it…is like a rejection to that school. You won’t be able to attend.