@Isamom wrote:
“Due to difficult times and very limited finances, merit aid seems the only way to afford college for my daughter.”
Yes! That’s us! And we did not want to tie a ball and chain around our ankles and drown!
@Mom2aphysicsgeek wrote:
“Your dd needs to understand that her situation is absolutely not unique. There are probably more top academic kids around the country who are in her situation than who are not. Not that many middle class families have the saving or cash flow necessary to pay for attendance at top schools. What happens to all of those kids? They forge a place for themselves at schools their families can afford. The world does not exist in the CC bubble. Extremely gifted kids are found on campuses across the country.”
Wish I could Like this x1000. So true, and maybe we don’t hear enough of these stories on CC.
I pulled up our spreadsheet for last year. Estimated tuition, fees, books, other expenses (personal, travel), plus adding in 3% inflation each year.
FOUR year net cost of attendance for Fordham, with a full tuition scholarship, was coming in at around $90K.
FOUR year net cost of attendance for University of Kentucky, with a full tuition scholarship plus room and board stipend was coming in around $14K.
I don’t have my numbers for University of Alabama saved, but the Presidential Scholarship at UA was our next best option. Given the choice, she picked UKy.
We are already paying full freight for our oldest at our state flagship, UIUC. BUT, she did her first two years at community college. And THAT helped us manage private high school on scholarship for the youngest.
Oldest one is on study abroad for winter session and we were able to help her fund that. Youngest one is on track to graduate in 3 years. She is taking classes over winter session, not covered by her scholarship, and we were able to help with that.
I’m so relieved we did not stretch ourselves too thin. There was a week there that I was ready to sell an organ. Then, the fever passed.
Good luck! Stay strong!