<p>Am I reading that Oberlin table right? On average a student whose parental income is below $20K has to come up with $10K not including any loans in the financial package. I'm assuming the non-grant portion of the package includes both fed loans (on which interest and payment are deferred) and work-study.
If that's the case, then it seems that the top colleges expect a student (or his or her parents) to be some $50K in debt at graduation.</p>
<p>I remember seeing a cover story in Parade magazine of a family where all the kids (4 or 5) went to Harvard. The parents said they never took vacations, and re-financed their house 7 or 8 times. I guess it depends on your priorities (and maybe your guilt level).</p>
<p>Also don't forget that while other kids are working during the summer, your talented music kid will want to go to Tanglewood. (although there are some jobs there). </p>
<p>FluteMomLiz: My daughter really likes Walfrid Kujala. He's 80 years old and somewhat of a grandfatherly type, but he is picky and makes her be very precise in her playing. When my daughter took audtions, her other two took about 10 to 15 minutes each, but Kujala took about 45 minutes with her, talking to her and asking her to do certain things differently to see if she could pick up on new things. Also, when she was accepted he a made a personal phone call to her. --As a junior she takes lessons from Richard Graef who is Asst. Princ. in the CSO, and who she also really likes, but will be back with Kujala next year.</p>