<p>@intparent - you are so right. DD is a problem solver (and already has a CC account). So DH and I are going to sit down and try to figure out an amount we can contribute. Complicating things is I am self-employed/freelancer and just never know what my income will be, so it makes using those calcuators a little tricky. I did stumble upon this thread in which a similar student devised a very smart plan of attack: <a href=“After the Dust Settled: Results for high-stats, merit-seeking kid - Parents Forum - College Confidential Forums”>After the Dust Settled: Results for high-stats, merit-seeking kid - Parents Forum - College Confidential Forums;
<p>I appreciate your advice to just figure out a realistic EFC and let her see what she can come up with in terms of merit choices. Thanks!</p>