<p>But what if reality is harsh, and there is no way to say it any less harshly?</p>
<p>E.g. is it better to let the student and parents know that taking $100,000+ in student loan debt to attend a “dream school” will likely result in a nightmare while the student is creating a college application list, or say nothing while the student attends such a school, later to drop out after running out of money, with no degree and lots of debt?</p>