The conversation now needs to be how much are they willing to pay?
There is a big difference between them wanting to pay for the local commuter school and the
'No way are we paying 65K/year for private."
Will it be community college while you live at home
Do they expect you to Earn some scholarships to help defray the cost
Do they expect you to take out the maximum loans
You would be surprised at the number of families that look rich on paper but are actually cash poor
What are your stats: gap and sat scores
Are there any schools where you may be eligible for free tuition, then with the 5.5 k loan some Monet from summer earnings and a little from your parents can make things work…