Money seems to be my best and worst enemy right now. (HELP! =[)

Paying for College
1

<p>This seems to apply to college selection. So here I go: </p>

<p>My financial aid seems to have the prospects of turning into a repeating loop of disaster. I am right now considering Ivy Leagues only because it offers the <60k income aid. I do have <$60k income and I anticipate my first year to be debt-free, without dues to the college and etc.</p>

<p>Problem is, by choosing to go to an ivy league (if I do get into one), my dad is also planning to get a 80k+ job to help support my family. Because I choose to go to an Ivy League, I also risk myself getting into huge debt in years 2,3, and 4 because of my increased income</p>

<p>So to make it simpler, if I do get into an Ivy:</p>

<p>Situation 1:
Applying to Ivy > Get into Ivy for free first year> Dad gets job to help out > Income exceedes limit > I get poor again from paying tuition (now not eligible for financial aid) > I get out of school with super, private school debt of years 2,3, and 4 (about 150k debt or a little less)</p>

<p>It is because of this my parents do not want me to apply to an ivy. This is their ideal situation:</p>

<p>Situation 2:
Apply to UCs > Get into UC and pay reg tuition > Dad gets job to help out > Income exceeds limit that doesn't matter so much any more > I get out of school with a lesser debt from years 1,2,3,4 (about a 100k debt)</p>

<p>Sure, an easy solution would be: "Why don't you just tell your dad not to get a job? You'll have free ride." Problem is, with my family in a terrible financial situation (for the past 5 years or so), he needs to get that job to help us out of the debt we're in. </p>

<p>I really want to go to an Ivy and this financial loop of doom is getting me frustrated. All I want is a good education, but money's just ruining my prospects of going to an Ivy.</p>

<p>Thanks for reading. I really hope someone can help me out.</p>

2

<p>A "80k+" job does not disqualify you for aid.
Also, beside from HPS, there are other schools that offer exceptional aid.</p>

3

<p>That is true. But my father anticipates our overall income going past 100k possibly with my mom's job in tow. And, in that sense, it's definitely less aid for my tuition. For example, the normal 50k tuition would go down to maybe 30-40k and my debt would be huge =[ </p>

<p>I also have to keep in mind that, even as my dad gets a higher pay, most of it will go to paying our debt, not my college tuition.</p>

<p>It's not just HPS for me, but the lower ivies too that offer the education at the same price as HYPS. I do realize that cheaper schools like berkeley offer the same great education at lower costs, but I really want to go to some of the Ivies that I'm considering.</p>