@maxedoutmom, I was a low income student, so I understand people’s desire to provide a traditional college experience for their kids. But not everyone is taking out large loans to pay for their children’s education.
My son had an acceptance to a college that offered a package where our net cost was a full third of the cost of attendance. It was a very nice school, but there were other colleges that offered his major that were just as nice and wouldn’t require us to take a $20k/year PLUS loan on top of a yearly $5500 federal student loan. He chose one of those and loves it. He can afford to socialize with his friends during the school year and travel with them on breaks. If community college had been what we could afford, he’d have started there like I did.
You don’t want to be in the position where everything has to go right in order for her plan to succeed. And you don’t want finances to be so tight that she can’t take advantage of all that college has to offer. I’d take a look at her other acceptances and find a more affordable option.