<p>Hello, All!</p>
<p>Thank you for all of your amazing posts in this thread. We are starting to apply to colleges (tomorrow Common App opens!!), and are very worried about the debt that our four children will end up with by the time they graduate. This is our first time filling out apps, FAFSA, etc. We live in NJ where everything is exorbatant in cost (sigh). We have informed all of our children that we will help them in any way possible, but we do not have any extra even for savings, so they need to plan how they are going to pay for college. Fortunately, grandparents saved some for each child, so they are able to shop.</p>
<p>We checked out several of our state schools, but D just did not feel good about attending any of them for various reasons. Going to see Rutgers next week, but I am prepared for her to not like that either because although it is an amazing school, it is HUGE, and spread out all over New Brunswick (not the greatest area). Community college is on the list, but not sure if that’s the best option because she is applying for nursing and a five year physician’s assistant program (her hope!), and I have heard it is hard to transfer to these already competitive programs.</p>
<p>One idea we had was to offer that they could stay home for a year or two (depending on their marriage prospects at the time), live rent/expense free and utilize all of their first earnings to pay off any debt they have.</p>
<p>I have been researching since she was in 9th grade. LOL I have charts and everything! I would consider myself type A-, ha ha. Fortunately, my D is so thankful for all of my research, but it is not really translating into any extra cash to date. She has applied for various scholarships but so far no funds. Almost won a writing contest! Because we live in NJ and have large family, our costs of living is very high, so in the end we will end up with a high EFC no matter what we do. Sigh.</p>