HopperFan
"It's a bug-eat-bug world out there, princess."
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2003
I am probably the exception, not the rule, but here is my experience..
Going into college I was dead set on attending Ohio State. Being from Pennsylvania, I had to pay out of state tuition. (Penn State was also on my list, my sister goes there).
I was torn in two about my college choice because of a few things, one of the main factors being MONEY. I had my heart set on attending OSU, but it would have cost me about $16,000 per year after scholarships and financial aid. Going in, I applied to any/all schools I was interested in, especially those w/ free applications. That way, when I had received acceptance letters and financial aid packages, I could see the range of what schools were able to offer.
I happened to qualify for a great deal of financial aid because at the time my dad had lost his job & I was the oldest of 5 kids, and I also received a good amount of academic scholarship.
Long story short, my "dream school", OSU, would've cost me $64,000 total, bare minimum, for 4 years. The private local school I was accepted to (with a program that I really liked), cost me less than $16,000 TOTAL for four years. Again, I know this is not the norm. But in looking for schools, I think it's really important to weigh all of your options.
Currently, my loans are manageable. I pay $200/month for 10 years.
OP, I didn't read every single post on this thread, but what I'm trying to say is college is EXPENSIVE. Like I said, I know I am not the norm, but I wouldn't change my education or the experiences I had for anything! I'm not trying to say your child should re-think their college choice, but just make sure that should anything happen, they're comfortable paying these loans.
This is our experience (in applying) as well. Private schools will often have lots of money and more flexibility in handing it out. Know quite a few who attended smaller private schools for very little money and received a good education. There are SO many out there I would never rule it out as an option.