<p>The more I read these boards the clearer it becomes to me how pointless these threads are since this can only be decided by a family as its sits down to prioritize the value of giving the student a full choice. Some posters will always recommend the free option and say the student or family is foolish to make any sacrifice financially to pay for college. As a parent, you “can’t take it with you” and if you anticipate a secure retirement, it is a very personal decision whether you want to give up the money now for college or save it for some other assistance in your lifetime or just leave it over. Since kids can’t borrow this kind of money, it is almost rediculous to ask if college “X” is worth my taking out $100K in loans over college "Y’.</p>
<p>I can only hope that future parents read just a couple of threads like this before their kid applies and decide in advance if they are going to want their kid to be bought by a college if the money appears. We all know that these awards are given to top tier kids who are willing to drop down a level to a school that everything else being equal, they would not attend. Parents have posted that they are fully able to pay for a more selective school but now have second thoughts given this found money. For many students the option of a merit scholarship should come as no surprise. How can an anonymous poster on a board like this give useful guidance when two families with equal assets and income would be reasonable to disagree on how to spend their money?</p>