<p>Forgive me if I'm posting this in the wrong place, but I haven't been to this section of CC. </p>
<p>So I've seen on a lot of people's posts, some parents responding saying "have you talked to your parents about what they can afford?" And I just wanted to say I have, numerous times. I tried to get my parents to fill out NPCs to find out what our EFC is, and I could figure out how much financial aid I could get, but they simply won't do it. (I am a rising junior if that matters.) Now I am only asking them these questions so I can figure out where I should apply. My parents want me to apply wherever I feel like I would most fit in and we would worry about the money later. Normally, I would feel good about this but I can't help worry. What if I get into my dream school and we find out we can't pay? I'd rather just not apply at all. So I guess what I'm really asking is, do you think it's crucial to know what I can afford and apply to colleges based on that, or should I apply to colleges because I like them, and worry about the money later? Of course I will probably be doing that anyway, but I just wanted to see what others thought. Also, I don't really know how much financial aid we will be receiving, but I have two younger brothers (they're twins) in private school, and we're receiving financial aid for them. I think my parents' combined income is ~110K but they've never told me so I don't actually know. My mom also says "we can hope that you'll get scholarships, but you never know." I'm African American if that matters...I just don't know what to do! Should I even be remotely interested in pricier colleges? Thanks in advance for all your help!</p>
<p>If your parents will not approach the process realistically, then you need to do so yourself.</p>
<p>A problem with “apply to the schools you like and see what happens”, is that one thing that can happen is to end up with no remotely affordable options.</p>
<p>The most important part of the application process is to have at least one “safety” college that you know you would be (1) happy to attend and (2) able to afford.</p>
<p>Have you showed them the stated costs of attending big-name private schools? They go above $64k/year in some instances.</p>
<p>What’s your income bracket? If it’s over $100k, you’re looking at EFCs at or above $40k at most places; some schools might bring it down to the mid-30ks.</p>
<p>A lot of parents say that they’ll discuss the money later because they’re not aware of just how much it costs to go to a high-tier (but not HYPMS) private school.</p>
<p>@BobWallace I think I’ve already found that option, and that’s exactly what I was concerned about! I didn’t want to get into colleges and then find out I couldn’t go anywhere.</p>
<p>@dividerofzero Do colleges not take any other parts of our financial situation into consideration? Even if our income bracket is over 100K, will they not look at the fact that I have two siblings who go to an expensive private school? That would definitely play a part into our EFC.</p>
<p>Some private colleges take into account money spent for pre-college private school tuition. A couple of examples are Princeton and Vanderbilt.</p>
<p>How do you know that? Is there a website because I would like to see what other colleges do that. Thanks for all your help!</p>
<p>You can discern this from running their NPCs with and without the private school tuition. </p>
<p>I don’t have anything like a comprehensive list, it’s just something I noted on those colleges when my daughter was applying. In the case of Vanderbilt, we were able to confirm that the NPC was accurate.</p>
<p>You cannot know what colleges take into consideration until you go to the net price calculator. I’m sorry to hear this about your parents, but it’s quite common. Would it be possible to ask them to speak to or take a phone call from your school counselor or your pastor or your uncle or some adult who has some experience with applying to colleges? Arrange it in advance with the counselor or pastor or uncle, of course. Talk to your cousins about how they handled their parents and the npcs, and see if there’s an uncle or aunt who can intercede for you. </p>
<p>Kid, you aren’t even a junior yet. Just spend your time making college as affordable as possible for your parents by keeping your grades up and prepping for your exams. It seems like that is all you can do. </p>