<p>The system is not fair, nor is it consistent. One can become a lobbyst to try to bring about some changes, but who will pay you to do so? Most of the time, it’s all we parents can do just to come up with the best options for our student and family situation.</p>
<p>There is also the fact that many parents and students need to get a change in mindset about how this college thing works. Few expect to send their kids to private school or out of district schools without paying tuition. That’s a given here. Your kids go to your public school or other programs to which your public school has made arrangements with, or you pay out of district costs. And if you live in an apartment and don’t pay school taxes directly, it doesn’t matter. It’s part of your rent. Live for free with other family members, you’re still in district. The rules are generally clear. You want to go to Private Academy or Holy Catholic, you have to apply and either pay the tuition or see if you qualify for aid or scholarships, if they exist. You put your kid in boarding school, in addition to tution, you pay room and board. All of these things are very clear. </p>
<p>Then it’s time for college, and many parents with kids who are good students suddenly think that not only should the kid be going to a private school but should be living there. And they are outraged at the cost. Take a look at what these “independent” schools are charging the selective ones, for K-12 kids. So, yes, going a way to college going to a private college is expensive. And these days, even the state school costs have been rising. But still, the Stafford loan available to nearly everyone can cover most in state local school tuition. Those who are considered very needy, have the PELL.</p>
<p>Then if a school really wants you, it can offer to defray the cost with merit awards. Some schools have financial aid and have their formulas on how they dole it out. </p>
<p>You want to go out of state where you don’t vote, are included in the tax base if and when you qualify for taxes, then you pay a premium. </p>
<p>How fair this system is, I don’t know, but a first step is understanding it. A lot of parents don’t and that’s where a lot of the problmes occur. There is this myth that if you have a “good” student, the scholarships are right there. That there is some entitlement to going away to school and to public schools. Yes, HPY and those other big names are regarded by many as the “Best” colleges and be so regarded they should be taking the “best” students regardless of money, but then there are those prep schools that are also so regarded, and no one expects their top high schooler to be able to go there for free. The expectations shift when it comes to college due to alot of myths that are around, fed by the college articles and the propaganda the colleges themselves issue. The school GCs don’t help either.</p>
<p>Colleges, are a business, also. SOmething that a lot of people do not consider. They are not a charity or an entitlement.</p>