Any changes necessary in my college list?

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<p>So you need to do more than “have an impression”. In recent years college have been required to add a net price calculator to their websites where you can get an idea of what kind of need-based financial aid you could expect from the college. They are not perfect, but are usually pretty close if your mom doesn’t have a small business or rental real estate. Run them NOW with your mom; she will need her most recent tax return and asset values/account balances. Don’t wait to see what the numbers are, or just think she will “figure it out”. These tools have made it much easier to be informed before you apply, and to make sure you are applying to schools you can afford.</p>

<p>JHU is a private college… honestly, if you are pre-med, not sure why you would think Penn is a better school, other than being a bit blinded by the prestige idea of an “Ivy”. If I were pre-med and smart enough to cut it at either place, I’d probably go with JHU.</p>

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Unless it is an auto admit school, you should get more than an impression. Because for full tuition, most schools do 33 and up on the ACT and that doesn’t include room and board.</p>

<p>Alright, I will use the net price calculators with my mom today. Thanks for your help</p>

<p>And the schools the OP have listed don’t do that (pretty much no merit aid). But I think the OP thinks he will get need-based aid, which is what the calculators are best at predicting.</p>

<p>Yes @intparent that is exactly what I was thinking. I was looking at need based rather than merit based aid. </p>

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I find these statements to be contradictory. If you’re mom has been able to put aside $120K for your first two years of tuition then it’s highly unlikely you’ll qualify for any need based aid. </p>

<p>I think the OP’s mom may have 2 years set aside for in-state options (Michigan or Michigan State). Guessing she has not run the NPC and doesn’t realize what the cost is for some of the other options… lots of parents make that sort of comment but don’t realize the actual cost. But it sounds like OP is working on that with her.</p>

<p>@erin’s dad - My mom and dad put away the money before my dad died, who was the main source of income for our family. Also, @intparent is correct in that I meant in-state tuition.</p>

<p>Also, my mom is aware of the cost of other colleges… she’s a high school counselor.</p>