<p>@annika: I understand, and I know that’s something I’ll come to terms with. It’s just different, from what I’ve been told since I was a kid (that going to an excellent college is an important factor in financial success as an adult, even if it isn’t necessary). I’ve only recently started talking about college plans and such, and they say I should only be concerned with where I can get in at the moment, and that aid/loans/scholarship/etc will come if they will. But the posters in this thread have been very helpful, and everyone’s shown me that my previous way of thinking in my original post is very different from what is reality. Thank you.</p>
<p>@kayf: Thanks, I will def apply to some C/SUNYs as safeties.</p>
<p>@Pea: I don’t know… I had always been considered a very smart/hardworking kid. In high school I had many personal/family issues, fell into a slump, and became depressed. I should have done things that would have contributed to my happiness and well being, but I was certain that having big changes in my life would negatively affect my grades (more so than they have already). But hey, 3.5gpa is not terrible; not top, but it’s a good grade. When I said I have been working really hard - my mother has paid thousands of dollars over the past decade sending me to weekend classes and summer prep. We’re not desperately poor but we are definitely considered lower middle class. She’s always made a big deal of me keeping my grades up, and my childhood was not fun.</p>