<p>As a parent fairly experienced with the college process, and a long time CCer I want to caution all the kids out there reading this thread. </p>
<p>Most of the advice on here about generous aid is just plain wrong. Do not believe it for a moment. If you are very top applicant, and you get lucky, you might get some merit money from a top college. Most likely, you’ll get nothing. Need based aid - do not count on it for anyone with only one student in college and an income over $50,000. Don’t forget too that if you do qualify for need based aid, there will be a loan involved.</p>
<p>Come April you will want to have some choices for schools. If all you apply to are a bunch of top schools and your state U, you had better be prepared to go to the state U, because that’s likely to be your only choice.</p>
<p>Build a list where you have a real shot at merit money - hint - this is not a list with all top 25 schools! That will require a lot of research - on here and maybe the US News premium site, which has great stats for scholarships by school.</p>
<p>Anyone who thinks that a school will “somehow make it possible for you to attend” is dreaming.</p>