<p>You will find your aid offer from chicago will be in line with your aid offer from other comparable schools. While there is a small chance of merit scholarships, don’t bank on it. Most of the merit offers I’ve heard about went to kids bound for the ivies.</p>
<p>If an EFC calculator says your parents can afford $17,000 or more, and your parents are saying they can only afford $2-3000 per year, you need to have a long chat, and perhaps check out local community colleges. </p>
<p>Speaking as a parent, I can tell you that ALL financial aid offices expect parents to make BIG sacrifices. This can include borrowing a good deal of the cost of college and paying for the education over a 10 year period. That’s what many of us have done or are doing. </p>
<p>No parent at the start of this process can believe the numbers from the calculators. It took me a long time to recognize the reality. </p>
<p>Just remember, when a college says they meet “all need”, it is the college that defines what the “need” is to be met.</p>