<p>Probably the more common mistakes in building application lists (from an affordability standpoint) involve applying to out-of-state public schools which do not satisfy at least one of the following conditions:</p>
<ul>
<li>Out-of-state list price (including regional discounts, if applicable) is affordable.</li>
<li>Large enough merit scholarship is in-reach.</li>
<li>Good need-based financial aid is available to out-of-state students (very rare, probably only UNC-CH and UVA).</li>
</ul>
<p>Consider [this</a> thread](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1482652-having-trouble-balancing-finances-caliber-acaemics.html]this”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1482652-having-trouble-balancing-finances-caliber-acaemics.html) where the student’s application list yielded six admissions but only one (maybe two) of which were affordable without unreasonable debt (fortunately, that one school is a good choice for the student). It is not hard to see that the application list could have been structured better.</p>