<p>BTW: When you make a spreadsheet, you might work in the grant aid, the ACTUAL travel costs you estimate experiencing (not the school COA estimate which is the same for all, and also include costs of your visits too), and then get a net cost, put your loans after that and see what the out of pocket (now or later) costs are in comparing schools.</p>
<p>We had 6 schools, one international and one Profile, but the 4 FAFSA schools were SOOOO close in net out of pocket on my spread sheet, once I factored in my real cost estimates (we had CA, TX, VA, NY so travel was significant to compare to the real cost) </p>
<p>Also, the loans, in my opinion should not be calculated in, they allow you to experience something you cannot afford right now, but you still pay them, so compare the packages something like:</p>
<p>Tuition
R&B (dorm)
Books
Real est Travel Costs</p>
<h2>less grants</h2>
<p>NET COST to you</p>
<p>Packages that seemed different really did end up being so close that our choice between those schools had nothing to do with money- though a last second (day of decision!) merit scholarship was certainly an emotional tip into a choice she was already leaning towards!</p>