<p>OP, have you sat down with your parents and asked them how much $ they have set aside for you to attend college? What plans did they have to pay for your college? </p>
<p>It is possible to pay that kind of $ but it usually means one of the ways listed above or going to one of the very inexpensive schools in the country (not NYU-- some of these schools are work schools or religiously based) OR going military (either attending a military academy or joining the military and then using benefits to pay for college. </p>
<p>Have you asked your friends how they pay for college on their own? My guess is one of the most common ways is to commute (that alone cuts about $10K of room/board although you have to consider transportation expenses), work and take longer to graduate.</p>