<p>definitely apply to all the mid and lower UCs…see if you can get app waivers.</p>
<p>@mom2collegekids thanks 
do you guys have any other suggestions? Like any private schools that give good aid?</p>
<p>I doubt any OOS publics would work or be better than a UC</p>
<p>your strength with the UC are:</p>
<p>they dont count frosh grades
your UC GPA will be high
your test scores matter less
your low income status helps.
you will get great aid.</p>
<p>get waivers and apply to all UCs</p>
<p>She can get waivers for 4 UC, she will have to pay the rest.</p>
<p>The problem wisewalnut, is that even if you get 10 or 20k merit aid, which is considered good your parents still have to come up with 30-40 or so a year. So those schools don’t help. You need schools that will meet your need (those can be extremely competitive that is why a Questbridge Finalist award can help), but you haven’t even done the work to define your ‘need’ or your EFC. If your parents can’t pay that amount then it doesn’t help you to even go to a meets need school. Do some basic work and you can get better help. Why should people name all sorts of schools for you to investigate if you can’t end up affording it. There are literally thousands of colleges.</p>