<p>*I was a single parent (a widow) when older D first applied to college.</p>
<p>I fully expected her to end up at a SUNY for financial reasons. But Colgate’s package left me with a balance below SUNY Oswego or SUNY Oneonta’s.</p>
<p>So yes, make sure the state school is on her list, but make sure a school or two that guarantees to meet 100% of need is on the list as well. Fill out all of the FA forms and you might be surprised. *</p>
<p>What were your D’s stats?</p>
<p>*I am paying for private ACT tutoring and hope it helps her chances of obtaining even a small merit scholarship, however, this only seems possible at our state flagship school, University of Alabama. What are the chances that her ACT score could be increased to at least a 28, enabling her to get a partial scholarship and enrollment into the honors college at UA? Any other suggestions? *</p>
<p>It is doable to get an ACT 28 (or SAT equivalent) with practice to get a scholarship to Bama (and to get into the honors college). That scholarship would cut tuition in half, leaving you with about $12k left (rest of tuition, room, board, books, etc). It would be more if she wanted honors housing. </p>
<p>With a good tutor and good luck, she could raise it higher. My son helped a friend go from an ACT 26 to a 31…so getting free tuition at Bama. Such an increase would also help your D with admissions to the top schools that give great aid.</p>
<p>Do you know what your EFC might be? Do you know if her non-custodial parents’ income will raise family contribution at those schools? Will her NCP contribute? If not, then those schools may be “off the table” anyway.</p>