<p>In the fall of 2011, my dd applied to UW as an OOS student to try to get into their pre-med program; as an AP, honor student and athlete, she was immediately accepted. </p>
<p>That being said, her fees/housing to attend were 50K; she did receive loans but they weren’t enough to begin to cover her costs. We told her we couldn’t pay since we were already paying for her sister’s tuition at another school. Our daughter wasn’t offered ANY merit aid or financial aid other than her loans. NONE. </p>
<p>So, she’s happy and doing well at her UC.</p>
<p>IF YOU ARE INDEPENDENTLY WEALTHY, then you are right, in the end it should be about the major and career choice. BUT for those of us parents and students who live in the real world, COST DOES MATTER! Ask your parents if they can afford $200,000 for your college costs. Given that you’re basing attendance on receiving FA, I bet your parents cannot afford this cost. Additionally I seriously doubt you can work full time and make 50k per year while you go to school.</p>
<p>Your friend, in 4 years, still will owe, at least, 32K. That’s a lot of money. It may not seem to you as if that amount is not a lot, but it is a lot of money.</p>