<p>It is easy to get your family’s expected financial contribution. That will tell you if you will be eligible for need based aid, and how much you will be eligible for. If you are truly eligible for need-based financial aid, with your statistics, you may well find private colleges to be cheaper than public college. Can you have your HS guidance counselor explain to him how this works?</p>
<p>(You know the top colleges give no merit aid, right? </p>
<p>There are several threads here on college confidential about full ride scholarships. Surely your dad wouldn’t object to that!)</p>