<p>Thank you for clarifying that info for me. It can get pretty confusing. Our AGI is solidly 5 figure, so I guess we’d be looking at that general 25%. I know we’ll need to work the calculations to get more specific, but it sounds like that might be a good ‘guess’. So anything over that 25%estimate is what the schools might aim to fill thru scholarships and loans, but many schools may not have enough to offer to be able to fill that gap. I guess that may be where being a highly desireable student can help? Schools may steer more of their resources toward your child if they really want them to attend…and that could be the funding to fill that gap (or even more if they reeeeally want them), right?</p>
<p>My daughter has talked about MIT for a long time, and they do, at least currently, meet full need (could be in loans though…and I assume they would be one that would want the CSS). If the MIT dream doesn’t work out, she will probably be looking at an in-state school, but who knows. </p>
<p>We’ve done the state (Florida) prepaid tuition plan for her, and that is something I have not seen noted in discussions of calculating cost and family contribution.</p>
<p>Ok, so, for state/public schools, it sounds like it may be best to have money in retirement accts and in equity, (also 529??) but for the schools that want the CSS maybe mostly private schools?), it may not matter where the money is.</p>