<p>curmudgeon -
I completely empathize - for DS, too, a "match" and "safety" are defined by cost as well as academics. The school he liked best when we visited (GW) costs a FORTUNE, is not known for good merit aid, and for a variety of complicated reasons we are not eligible for financial assistance, although I can't afford to send him to a $50K per year school (or even a $40K schol for that matter). So I had to tell him not to apply there. He's in OOS at Rutgers, very affordable. Waiting to hear now on EA at a school where he would have to get merit aid to attend. My biggest hope is the Canadian schools, so terrific and SO affordable.
It is hard when you have a great kid who has really done a terrific job in high school -
best of luck to all of us</p>