<p>“I’ll be anywhere from 80 to 100k in debt when I graduate if I go to these schools. AM I CRAZY?”</p>
<p>Probably not, unless you take on 100K in debt for your undergrad education. </p>
<p>“Is this unrealistic?” Yes. Too much debt for undergrad.</p>
<p>“Can I get a job to pay this off quickly?” Highly unlikely. More likely you’ll have this debt hanging around your neck for decades like an albatross, limiting your options going forward.</p>
<p>You should have:</p>
<p>*Applied to some financial safety schools, that you could afford. Typically, these are in-state public schools, or perhaps local community colleges. </p>
<ul>
<li>Applied for financial aid via FAFSA and Profile. This would help you if you’re eligible for grants or federal loans, and might also make you eligible for some school’s merit scholarships (some require FAFSA).</li>
</ul>
<p>*Calculated your EFC well ahead of applying for college to determine whether you were a candidate for need-based aid.</p>
<p>Did you do any of these things? If not, how did you plan to pay for expensive colleges?</p>