<p>Run your family numbers through some estimators to see if you even qualify for decent financial aid. If you don’t qualify, you aren’t going to get it and too many kids are surprised at how much families are expected to contribute. Just because a school meets 100% of need does not mean its definition of need and yours is going to mesh.</p>
<p>Find out what your parents are willing to pay for college. If the calculators say they have to pay it all, are they willing and able to come up with the close to $60K cost these privates are costing these days? </p>
<p>What did you get on your AP exams that you have taken? Also look at the Naviance chart for your school and see where kids with your test scores (not your projected ones but what you have–noone cares what you FEEL like you got), and see where these kids are getting accepted to college.</p>
<p>I can tell you, that looking at our high school Naviance scores, kids with even a slightly higher GPA did not get into the top schools. It really took a lot to get into the most selective colleges, and this school is a private prep school with a fairly rigorous curriculum. Schools like Gettysburg, Dickinson, to name a few LACs would be in the picture for you if you show an upward trend in grades and continue to take difficult courses. But merit money is a whole other story for that level. If you need the money, and you want to go private, you need to find schools where your stats put you at the very top of their kids. Being AA, will be of help for you at schools that are seeking diversity, so take that into consideration too.</p>
<p>Also, you will qualify for Bright Futures, won’t you, which would bring any state school costs down drastically, and be some help for privates in Florida? Consider having some of those on your list.</p>