<p>I would worry more about about how you will pay rather than the increases. Home equity collapsing, Security market falling fast, fuel higher, and national debt crisis looming. </p>
<p>I think that college costs will soon stabilize. However other costs associated with college will rise unabated. ie dorms, energy surcharge, food, insurance, transportation, medical.</p>
<p>mythmom, my brother has a rent stabalized apt ($795 for a nice studio) near the NYU campus (3rd ave and 1st st) that he isn't living in at the moment. He lives with his boyfriend near the UN building</p>
<p>He recently subletted it for 2 years and he can do so again 2 years from now. He's keeping the apt (and paying for it by selling things on ebay that he finds for cheap in manhattan - he's got a good eye for stuff). </p>
<p>My brother figures that his building with either go co-op and he'll get paid to give up his apt or my son will use it for his junior/senior years at NYU.</p>
<p>I watch the travel channel alot, vicarious vacations are the closest I'll be to actually travelling for a while. Which really sucks because I have over 5 weeks vacation</p>
<p>We just completed DD's estimated FAFSA. It always makes me worry about the upcoming bills. I'm really beginning to enjoy all the different ways you can eat beans, rice and pasta.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info. Sue. Well it's nice to know we're poor together. We can visit each other's houses for a vacation!</p>
<p>Well, I didn't mean it was nice that you were poor; I just meant that it's fun having friends. Actually, surprisingly, it's kind of fun to rough it when it's for such a great cause.</p>
<p>We had a group meeting with the guidance counselor last week; she was quite candid that hardly anyone in our school district was going to qualify for any need based FA but loans and work-study so in general we shouldn't be encouraging the kids to apply to $50,000 schools (except HYP) if we aren't willing to pay. So at least the kid is getting these facts from the GC and not me...I think some GCs may encourage the fairy tale that there is lots of free $$$ out there!</p>
<p>I really don't see how she could possibly know this. We live in a very wealthy district, but I know of many, including our family, that are getting financial aid. GC would have no way of knowing about huge business debt H's business incurred or similar info. </p>
<p>And why except HYP? Some of the top LAC's are equally generous in aid and offer an equal education.</p>
<p>I understand that you support the intent of the guidance counselor, but I have found that GC's don't always know everything they think they do. There are people out there offering financial advice, and there is a lot of merit money as people on these boards have reported.</p>
<p>Yes, be realistic with your child, by all means, but do research and then apply according to the results of the research.</p>
<p>Both my kids are at top schools paying less than instate costs and we live in a five bedroom house with view of LI Sound. BTW: I have been completely honest in all my financial dealings with financial aid offices and honestly reported fair market value for house.</p>
<p>This year many schools are putting initiatives into place for upper middle class families whose family income reaches $200K. So it's wise to do research and not take such a blanket approach.</p>
<p>mythmom, I absolutely agree that you don't know until you apply. But I appreciated that she was being honest. (She did tell people to do the estimated EFC calculations now and look at merit scholarships).</p>
<p>Yes, I can see that.</p>
<p>Yah, I'm anxious. D#3 just applied to LACs. D#1 graduated in '06, D #2 is in a State school. I was shocked how much the fees had increased since #1 attended her LAC. All are over 40K a year and most in the 45/48K range! Just for comparison I checked the tuition on #1's LAC and it has increased over 10K alone (not including room and board increases). That is a good 15K increase since '02 when #1 was applying. My #2 has seen huge increases on a semester basis at the local State school, too. </p>
<p>I thought we would not be eligible for a dime on the fafsa, but they must have changed things on that, too, because our efc is about what I feel we can actually pay. Now, we just have to see if the colleges agree. The PROFILE efc is really pushing it, though. </p>
<p>The thing that gives me some solace is that #3 applied to a range of schools in selectivity and most of her schools are rich in endowment. I think it will all come down to how much they want her. I am anxious that the ones that want her the most may not be the ones she wants the most.....</p>
<p>Wash U went up 4.9% $ 36,000 tuition; housing food and health went up more than 8%.</p>