<p>I agree with posts about inequity of financial aid. I diligently paid off home in 15 years so I could re-mortgage for college. (Few luxuries, extra work etc.) I fully expected to fund both kids college education. I have posted elsewhere why this became impossible. Had that plan worked I would have been ecstatic and not really concerned with what others were receiving because I would have felt we were in the driver's seat. As it turns out, my husband is not as responsible as I and all re-mortgaging funds went to pay back business loans, and we almost lost our completely paid off house. It seems that our equity was equally attractive to unscrupulous business accountants.</p>
<p>Therefore, our amount of debt did enable us to qualify for financial aid. However, the trick was getting into a school willing to provide it. It was heartbreaking to receive many rejections for schools kids were quite qualified for. I am not complaining. Kids wrre accepted at wonderful colleges with doable aid packages. However, I would have preferred it if original plan had worked and WE had more control of the process. I am quite relieved that my kids weren't punished for having a naive and narcisstic father because they would have suffered, and I would have suffered. He would have been fine.</p>
<p>In addition, I am a college professor who receives no tuition exchange because I teach at CC. Many of my students are disadvantaged, and I do feel I am making a social contribution. Friends at more elite institutions send kids to college practically free.</p>
<p>I know this is a very personal post, but my point is to say, I wouldn't have minded fully funding my kids' education to have been able to be in control. The family that does everything "right" gets that; the high spenders do not. It's no small thing.</p>