<p>My family income is like $60,000 at best. I heard that that's the cut off line for many private schools in order to obtain full rides. Will someone tell me how this works? As in which colleges do that or something similar. Also, if I apply, could I get rejected and have to pay the whole crap load of tuition even though I can't without a ginormous school loan?</p>
<p>Basically, I'm really lost on how the financial aid really works. At least I know that it's completely separate from scholarships, but someone please help me because I don't want to flip burgers during my college life.</p>
<p>But remember, just because it's the cut off line doesn't mean you'll pay no tuition or "a crap load of tuition". The FA is at a graduated rate so even if you make $70,000 a year, at Harvard, that means probably $2-4k or much less.</p>
<p>What kind of grades/test scores/rigor of curriculum/extra-curriculars do you have? If you are a top student you might find some good options in top LACs, Ivy, or Ivy-equivelant schools that offer need-based aid. This financial aid is based entirely on your family income and assets and can be extremely generous.</p>
<p>If you are not a likely contender for admission to those very selective schools, you need to look for schools where your grades/test scores put you in the upper end of admitted students, and that have decent needs-based aid as well as merit-based scholarships.</p>
<p>But I will tell you, that any school will expect you to work summers and take on a work-study job during the school term. It doesn't necessarily have to be flipping burgers... it could be in the library or an academic office or any number of on-campus jobs, but work study will almost certainly be part of any financial aid award you receive.</p>
<p>ougnala, as I have been telling my D (a 3rd yr college student), don't be an employment snob. Take any job that is legit and do your best at it. So during college she has been a dishwasher (work-study), been a coffee barista, swirled yogurt and waited tables in a cafe. She now is being promoted to "shift supervisor" at the cafe, and because she has a good work ethic they are flexible with her schedule and she can get by on 2 or 3 shifts a week.</p>
<p>Plan on working during the school year, especially if your family cannot afford to pay for college. In addition to earning money, it builds character ;)</p>