<p>Right, mom2collegekids. And $120k in Oklahoma probably stretches pretty far!</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure your contribution for Columbia would be way less than $18K. Ivy Leagues have money to blow, which is why they aren’t incredibly expensive and are flexible for families that cannot afford their education. If you do get accepted, try emailing them to explain your situation and how you can only pay $7K. I’ve known others that have done this and had their EFCs cut in half!</p>
<p>Babyaztec…these generous schools do sometimes adjust financial aid awards…but NOT because families simply say they can’t pay their computed shares. I think you are WAY over simplifying this.</p>
<p>To the OP…please clarify your stats. An ACT of 33 is far different than what you posted on this thread. Rule of thumb…honesty and consistent reporting is crucial.</p>
<p>Second…if you intend to go to medical school, it is very important that you keep your undergrad debt to a minimum. </p>
<p>I agree with others…your goals and story don’t match up. In addition, there are numerous routes to successful medical practice…getting your MD from a high profile school is perhaps more important than getting your undergrad degree from such a school.</p>
<p>Sorry, I’m posting this as a scenario for a friend of mine and I was trying to maintain anonymity. The other posts are my stats, I was just hoping I could do this to find answers to help them. My actual college is covered, I am worried about them 
I tried to change things because I didn’t want to find out from google. Everything I have said in this post is accurate to them.</p>
<p>Tipa…then you should have started your thread by saying this was for a friend. Just saying.</p>
<p>Your “friend” can easily start his or her own account here.</p>
<p>Your “friend”'has some lofty goals. He needs to realize that when it comes to college costs…his family is first in line to pay. If medical school is even a glimmer, he wants little to no undergrad debt. His family WILL be expected to pay their family contribution as the college computes it. </p>
<p>One thing he needs to remember…he has a sibling in college now. When that sibling graduates, his family contribution will double. </p>
<p>Tell your friend there is NO money tree or money machine out there. He can apply where his stats will give him guaranteed merit aid. </p>
<p>Need based aid will be computed BY the colleges. Those generous schools he seems compelled to attend use both the FAFSA and the Profile. They will decide what they think his family can pay…and will award need based aid accordingly.</p>
<p>I am sorry, I realize now it was a bad idea to do so. I’ll take all the advice into consideration though! I just want him to be happy is all, and he wont back down from his aspirations, and I think it’s a shame that I can easily afford college with less than 50k and he can’t. I want to do whatever I can</p>