<p>Before you spend one more minute worrying about this, sit your parents down and have them run the EFC calculators at [FinAid</a>! Financial Aid, College Scholarships and Student Loans](<a href=“http://www.finaid.org%5DFinAid”>http://www.finaid.org) and at [College</a> Calculators - savings calculators - college costs, loans](<a href=“College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools”>Calculate Your Cost – BigFuture | College Board) Then talk with them about how your family will pay for your education. Are they able and willing to meet your EFC? If so, how much more than that are they able and willing to pay? If not, how much are they able and willing to pay? How much college debt are they willing for you to take on? (For some fun reading on college debt, see [Project</a> on Student Debt: Home](<a href=“http://projectonstudentdebt.org/]Project”>http://projectonstudentdebt.org/) ) How much money do they expect you to earn for your school expenses by working during the school year, and during vacation periods? Once you know more about the finances, you will be able to better frame your college list.</p>
<p>If your profile is decent, there may be significant merit aid available for you either at your home-state public university or at another college/university. Pop on over to the Financial Aid Forum to find information about those kinds of options.</p>
<p>Lots of students transfer every year. There is an entire Forum dedicated to just that. Click on “Discussion Home” in the upper-left of this screen and scroll down to find it.</p>