<p>D's a junior, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the situation improves. I am going to insist she apply to two or three financial safeties, just in case. (I had thought along the lines of 3 reaches, 3 matches, and 3 safeties) - and although she does not want to look at in-state publics, I'll drag her on campus visits and hope she gives them a chance. </p>
<p>As of today, one year at a private/ OOS is gone, but if she passes all her AP exams, she'll enter as a soph, so that should help.</p>
<p>califa, a financial safety is always a wise plan. Some schools, I believe, will not allow substituting a year with a load of AP credits, so check those policies carefully.</p>
<p>It will probably mean 11-12 applications instead of the 9-10 I was planning on, but a few financial safeties are going to be a necessity. And maybe it's time for D to think about a summer job too.</p>
<p>The APs are complicated - I'm just now finding out how some schools will only give placement for a 5 while another will give credit for a 3 on the same exam. I'm going to read through the whole merit aid thread...</p>
<p>"He has mentioned that he has recently heard from HS friends who went IVY and no merit and their parents are talking transfer due to losses in the market and jobs."
Happily, these are need based schools. Harvard and Princeton have your back on this.<br>
Lost in the discussion sometimes, the best financial asset in the college endeavor is a smart as heck teen hitting on all cylinders.</p>
<p>I'm sure some endowment funds had a haircut in this market turmoil. Last year, there was a flurry of PRs about colleges replacing loans with grants, eliminating EFCs for some middle class families, etc. I wonder what's going to happen now?</p>