<p>As has been stated, saving is not significantly penalized in aid formulas. It’s current income that drives the FA numbers more than most anything.</p>
<p>If need is high, some privates may be able to beat publics. This was the case with my son who got next to nothing offered from two instate publics (with instate costs of about $22K per year), and the privates, which all offered a net cost of $5-15K (or out of pocket of 0-10). Our public schools really don’t give much need-based aid and he didn’t qualify for much/any merit at the state schools he applied to.</p>
<p>He didn’t apply to any Profile schools so these packages were offered from FAFSA info only.</p>
<p>Thank you for the remark about her being an outstanding student. She’s pretty self driven. You know, I think I always knew that we weren’t likely to get need based aid. I do recognize that we are more fortunate than many. I guess I just thought merit aid might get her to a point wherenwe could do this private that she’s interested in. All families have to work out what they can do. Both of mine could have attended two years of community college with free tuition, but we chose to pay full price for state flagship for D1. D2 retook ACT in December and if she raised her score just a little, she might get some more merit aid at state u. </p>
<p>I just got whiny and frustrated because the private might have had a better program with better internship and employment opportunuties for her, but frankly, unless she changes personality drastically, she’ll land on her feet.</p>
<p>My DS is considering a public and a private. The list price for the private is much higher, but they gave him about half tuition based on his ACT (32) and he applied for the full tuition scholarship as well. At the public schools, he was not eligible for most merit due to low GPA, but the private is more flexible. We have gotten nothing from the public regarding aid, so I guess we’ll hear after we file FAFSA. At this point the private is still more expensive, but if he were looking at the state flagship it would be close.</p>
<p>So here’s where I think I got off track. If you have saved and have investments that produce income, that counts, right? But having a fancy car and clothes from Nieman Marcus wouldn’t?</p>
<p>Alas, DD2 did not improve from 33 on ACT. It looks like we’re headed to state u and paying most of the freight, despite her valiant efforts.</p>
<p>I think 33 is in top 1 % but OU is very generous with NMF but you’ve got to be in top 1/2 of 1 % to get great merit aid otherwise. Maybe we’ll find out I’m wrong.</p>
<p>One can still hope. and I’m still very proud of my kid.</p>
<p>Actually I think CSS asks about your car. Not your clothes.</p>
<p>I am sure someone has suggested you look at the guaranteed merit threads? There are multiple guaranteed full tuition/full ride scholarships for a 33 ACT if the GPA is 3.5 or so, and many not-guaranteed ones.</p>
<p>My DH, who is retired and has more time for such things, is in charge of FAFSA, so I haven’t buried myself in those details.</p>
<p>thanks, suzy100.</p>
<p>I’m still trying to get into this millenium even though this is the second time down this path. In my day a 30 on the ACT and a 3.9 gpa (no one did weighted before they invented paper and ink) were golden. It’s hard for me to comprehend that my kid can do this well, and not get more scholarships.</p>
<p>I’ve looked at the 2 suggested threads. Thank you.</p>
<p>Also, I guess I’d be more amenable to telling my kid, “You’ve got to go somewhere you don’t want to go to get the full ride,” if we couldn’t do the state u she likes anyway.</p>