I will not qualify for any need-based aid. What is my best plan of action to help out my parents?

[thumper1]

3. Make sure they understand the more merit an individual student gets, the less elite the college.

Hmm…depends on the school. I happen to think that Duke and Vandy are pretty elite schools…and they give merit aid to a select few students. UVA has Jefferson Scholars…and UVA certainly is considered to be an elite school by most folks.