<p>Emsdad, it sounds like we’re saying similar things. As I said, there were schools my kids did not apply to because, after research, we came to the conclusion that the likelihood of their getting a grant was very low. However, some colleges have a reputation for not giving scholarships which may not be perfectly true; I’d suggest people do their own research as everyone has different circumstances. I do have to say that all three of my children who have gotten into college so far have all been very fortunate to have been accepted to very expensive colleges on large scholarships; if we had only confined ourselves to state schools or less expensive schools (we are not well off at all) we would actually be paying far MORE than what we’re paying now. However, we have a high ‘need’ - our EFC is low. That is a factor too. And these three kids were fortunate to have high test scores, which helped in some schools for merit.</p>
<p>Bear in mind that sticker price and actual price are not AT ALL the same in many colleges, particularly with colleges with large endowments and/or a BFA program that is well established and has a lot of power within the system (they can sometimes negotiate with you). I’d really keep all that in mind when deciding where to go. I also don’t see anything wrong with auditioning for some financial reaches, particularly if you can do this at Unifieds. You just never know.</p>