<p>If you “need $25k in merit at privates”, that implies that your price limit is around $35,000 to $40,000 per year, and that you do not expect need-based financial aid to be sufficient. Why not just tell your kid that $35,000 per year is the price limit, and that s/he needs to both get admitted and get a net price under that limit?</p>
<p>^^
Exactly!</p>
<p>apply to Santa Clara…he’d get at least $28k per year in merit, if not more. </p>
<p>I think @eyemgh is more referring to sentences like these:</p>
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<p>your SON has competitive stats. HE will be applying to UCs. </p>
<p>The fact that you both visit and you will help with decisions doesn’t change the fact that the stats are HIS and HE is the one applying.</p>
<p>My son applied to med school. My son is attending med school. I didn’t apply and I’m not attending. lol</p>