<p>@gearmom </p>
<p>I think the OP didn’t word his post right. I think he means that he doesn’t know if his parents will borrow for the rest of his needs. He can only borrow $5500, but many of the mentioned schools will cost a LOT more, but his parents aren’t paying anything.</p>
<p>the OP needs to understand:</p>
<p>HE can borrow $5500 without his parents help.</p>
<p>However, $5500 will not cover any college that he is going to be dorming at. If he is LOW income and he goes to a school that meets need, then it might be affordable. However, with his stats, and as a CS major, I don’t think he’d get into any OOS schools that meet need. </p>
<p>To borrow MORE THAN $5500, his PARENTS will have to either take out Plus Loans (that would be THEIR obligation and they would have to qualify for those loans), or they would have to qualify and co-sign PRIVATE loans and they would be obligated to pay if the OP couldn’t pay them back. It sounds like either the parents won’t take out loans or maybe won’t qualify. Most parents will not take out loans because they can’t afford to pay them back. </p>
<p>As a back up, he needs to apply to a couple of UW schools that he can commute to FROM HOME. Even if they don’t have a super good CS program, he could go for a couple of years and then transfer. </p>
<p>The money isn’t going to fall from the sky.</p>