So, I am one of the ones that made a lot of mistakes when I went to school. I accumulated lots of student loans. I am still paying on them almost 20 years later.
I am encouraging my son to attend an in state college that has given him merit. I want him to be comfortable and I don’t want him saddled with debt. It has long term effects that you can’t see when you are 17-18.
My son is looking at engineering, so we are looking at ABET only schools. He can be a rockstar anywhere by hard work, but an accredited program provides an easier starting point when looking for internships and jobs.
My son did apply to a few elite places. He chose some that offer merit and others who meet need. We haven’t received answers on these, so no financial packages yet.
I’ve learned that merit is not as readily available as I had thought. This generation of students has really upped the anty so there is not enough $ to go around for deserving kids.
Your parents will not be able to get around you seeing their financials if you apply through FAFSA or CSS profile. Many scholarships also require copies of the 1040. It is difficult, but I sat down and talked at length with my son.
Good luck to you!