<p>App fee waivers are limited to how low income exactly? I mean, we don’t get food stamps or anything, but I spoke to my school, had my parents speak to my school, and I was able to receive fee waivers to SAT and ACT testing. I think asked about applications and I recall the counselor saying I could receive four during my senior year. I don’t personally know my exact family income, but my school does.</p>
<p>A lot of the rest addressed in your post… I can’t say I can respond very confidently to. I was under the impression that government loans (Stafford and Plus are two I’m semi-familiar with, but I understand there is a LOT that goes into the specifics of such loans - much of which I’m not an expert on) would be able to cover much of it, something I would be able to take on through my parents as well as myself.</p>
<p>And I was counting on some aid to come through as well. Even if schools weren’t able to meet 100% of demonstrated need, I expected that some would be provided for, even if that came in the form of loans. From what I’ve seen (though I can’t say I’m very knowledgeable on this) government loans, and caps on those loans, are independent of loans offered by the school as a part of financial aid.</p>
<p>I’ve never really been uncertain about my ability to pay for the cost of school, I have just been worried that much of those payments would be in loans. Which would follow me for much time to come. Are you actually saying there is a strong chance that I won’t be able to pay for a college - at all? As in the amount their charging me can not be met regardless of the source from which I try to scrounge money from (being grants, scholarships, loans) and I’ll be forced to go to the mob or something for money - or, more realistically, simply not go to a school for the sole reason that there would be no possible way to meet the cost? Honestly I can’t say I know for sure and you do seem to be much more knowledgeable in this, but it really never has been proposed that i would be flat out unable to meet the cost no matter what.</p>
<p>As for after all education is said and done and I’m in the work force and I’m expected to pay back everything I’ve borrowed? Yes, I’m scared. But that’s all been a part of the inevitability. I’ve always looked upon those first (several) years after graduation to be very difficult ones, but ones I… naively now that you say it, was sure I could pull through, by sheer force of will if nothing else.</p>