This is a challenging time.
We ALL want the “best” for our kids. And many of us have fallen into the prestige trap - believing that the “best” for our kid is the “highest ranked” school.
It takes time, research, thinking, discussing to see that the “best” is not necessarily the school with the most well known name.
What might be the best for one student might be a less presitious school where they can get a high GPA so they can get into medical school. Another student might have a full ride to a great public university…allowing them to study in a field where the final income may not justify a large educational debt.
In my own family we had to really come around to a different understanding of what was “best.” Our DD got into a higher prestige school then the one she is attending. But that school gave no merit aid. She is SUPER excited about where she is going, and the savings will allow us to help her with medical school in the future. Win-Win.
Best of luck!