<p>thumper1- It is not "garbage" if it is true and I have no reason to believe otherwise. The gentleman who told me about this put four kids through college. He spoke personally with the financial aid officer at the school and these expenses WERE IN FACT deducted ....as well as his two son's monthly hockey payments. I did not encourage anyone to go into debt for strategic purposes. I think most posters are aware that, depending on the strength of the candidate, some schools will move mountains which would include dismissing some debt. Is debt a good idea, no. Is it ever, no. But.. Curmudgeon, a well respected senior member, who received over a million dollars in institutional aid for his D, verifies that some schools will do this depending on the candidate, so obviously it is not totally "garbage" I think it was rude of you to dismiss my post as "garbage" as you don't know the circumstances, the school, or the candidate. I also think it was rude of other posters to hijack the post with a discussion about car insurance rates. I appreciate all the constructive responses and I am now aware of just how rarely something like this "preferential packaging" is done.</p>