<p>We told each of our kids that they needed a “financial safety’” a school where they would attend (hopefully cheerfully) if they didn’t get any aid and we could afford. For D, it was the CC & flagship U; for S, it was an OOS public flagship U that offered full-rides to NMFs (which he was).
A safety isn’t a financial safety if the family & student can’t afford it, even if the student is accepted. Students & families need to find a financial safety that they can be happy & comfortable with, even if it’s not “LOVE.” There are many kids who are accepted into many wonderful schools that they & their families can’t afford who are hugely disappointed but figure it out too late that the gap in finances make the options unworkable. Find good financial safeties early instead of late – save a lot of heartache.</p>