<p>Budget wise, as cheap as possible would be the best bet. Money isn’t exactly in abundance and I would have to take out loans.</p>
<p>are you aware that you’re limited as to how much you can borrow for federal student loans? For Freshman year, you can borrow $5500, for soph $6500, for jr and sr years $7500 for each year. So, about $30k total (and that might include some Perkins). Obviously, those small amounts don’t even cover tuition/fees at a lot of state schools, much less put any size dent in the cost of privates. </p>
<p>You’re a young person without a big income/assets. You can’t qualify to borrow large amounts. Nor, should you borrow more than the federal limits. Those limits are there for a reason - because that is about all a young person can make payments on after graduation… about $360 per month…about the cost of an extra car payment for 10 LONG years (in addition to all of your own real expenses and real car payment.). </p>
<p>How much are your parents contributing each year?</p>
<p>I think that money is going to be the limiting factor for your choices. Out of state publics don’t give aid to cover their big OOS costs, and right now your stats aren’t high enough for big merit scholarships or to get accepted to the top schools that might give you FA if your family’s EFC is low enough…</p>
<p>I think you first need to figure out your finances and then come up with a list. Right now, you may just be making a list of schools that will fit, but won’t be affordable.</p>
<p>Find out what your family’s likely EFC will be…</p>
<p>FA Calc<br>
<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid;
<p>Do both the federal method and institutional. Many privates use the both methods. If there is a non-custodial parent, then their income (and step-parent incomes) might also be included at some schools.</p>
<p>BTW…an EFC is not the most you/your family will be expected to pay. Most schools do not meet need. Most schools “gap”. And…OOS publics don’t help with costs. </p>
<p>(You may not be wanting to hear any of this now, but you DON’T want to be one of those students that we’ve seen post this last spring that didn’t consider finances and got into some “fav” schools, but can’t afford to go to any of them. And, now it’s too late for them to apply to schools that would also “fit” and be affordable. )</p>