<p>I still can't decide what college to choose, and the money I got at my top choices makes me happy sometimes. Other times, I feel very overwhelmed. At all these schools, I got about $25,000/year in some way that I don't need to pay back. The rest will come from my parents and me. Sometimes I go with the logic that if I need money I will get help, but other times I feel the financial aid isn't fair.</p>
<p>I've been looking around and I see that people are paying very little for college. How much are you(and your parents)going to pay total for those years at college? I'm wondering what people need to pay because right now I need to pay room and board, the fees, and other expenses. I'm curious to how other people are doing with this.</p>
<p>I'm going to post three things about my aid, and maybe other people will follow and post he info about theirs. Hopefully this is simple:</p>
<p>-Total expected cost/year(student and parent contribution not necessarily EFC)
-School
-Reason why you received the 'free money' you have</p>
<p>My info:
-24,000/year
-Northwestern/USC/BU
-Need-based and a little merit</p>
<p>The reason you may see a lot of people posting about how they will have to pay very little may be because these fortunate people are thrilled and naturally going to brag/share this news! I sure would too! On the other hand, MOST of us will not be that fortunate, but are not going to necessarily post our woes about the costs we do have to pay. </p>
<p>Also, for many top students ( my D is one) they/we have been told for years that schools will be knocking down the door to have them attend their college and college $$ will be falling out of the sky (snark) but in reality it doesn't necesarily work that way. Kids have different wants and needs and while you may be able to go to school A for little $$, school A may not be the type of school you desire. </p>
<p>We all have to try and help our students make the best decisions for their wants, needs and $$ available...</p>
<p>My D will probably attend her 1st choice.
The school costs about $37,000/year. The school will put forth about 1/2 of that in merit ($15,500) and grants. She will pay some, we will pay some and likely we'll have some loans.</p>
<p>I've been looking around and I see that people are paying very little for college.<<</p>
<p>What counts as "very little"?</p>
<p>Our sons are in private colleges. My husband's university pays 1/2 tuition at other institutions, and we are trying to pay 1/3 up front on top of that (remember, we have two in college at the same time!) </p>
<p>We've told both kids to assume that they will have $20K in loans to pay off. We think that's a deal, given that they are getting about $160K covered.</p>
<p>I guess I'm one of those thrilled/braggy people. Son got into his first choice -- Reed College -- with a full ride. He will not be taking loans, but does plan to get on-campus work just to have a little extra spending money above the aid. I am budgeting about 1500-2000 per year (about $150 or so a month) out of my pocket, to cover things like clothes, snacks, and things like that. </p>
<p>I expect that total, I will pay between 10K and 15K for his undergraduate expenses, over the next 4 years.</p>
<p>My 1st choice does not offer merit money. Right now it would cost us about $41,000 + travel, personal costs etc.. We did send an appeal letter after meeting with the financial aid office and are hopeful. If I don't get something most likely I will not be attending. My mom offered to sell the house and move to a condo. but that does not seem fair. A school that is a tier below my first choice offered me $26,000 per year in merit money leaving only about $5,000 for us to pay.</p>