<p>What can you do?</p>
<p>First, you are not the only one with parents who do not want to pay the costs of the Ivies and equivalent even though it seems they can afford to.</p>
<p>So…what can YOU do. Adjust your college expectations. Set your sights on the goal of getting a bachelors degree, not on attending a very expensive school that your family will not fund.</p>
<p>Read the thread by Amber2010. She tells what she did to pay for college herself.</p>
<p>Work. Go to community college and commute from home…and continue to work part time. Go to an instate public university, and commute if possible to save more money. OR finish a two year degree at the community college and get a job…work and save money to finish your bachelors degree. You won’t be the first (or the last) to go this route.</p>
<p>Just for the record…the INTEREST on the $400,000 your family currently has will more than fund Amber’s college route suggestion.</p>
<p>AND…talk to your parents about your post high school plans. Ask them how much money they ARE willing to pay annually for your education…then go from there.</p>
<p>And as I said earlier…if you think you have the stats to get accepted to an Ivy or equivalent school, you could be in the running for merit aid at other schools. Read the the thread by momfromtexas who found full rides or near for both of her kids. </p>
<p>But remember…being honest about what you are doing financially has to trump any other “ideas” you have for divesting your family of funds they have. Remember, if you are verified for financial aid applications, you will likely be required to send in family tax returns for AT LEAST one year…we had to do two.</p>