<p>Not really a bargain, sueinphllly, whent you look at COA at the southern schools or even NY. It is very expensive to go to “sleep away” school in CA. I think I suggested to the OP that she go to a local school if she is too far away from UCLA to commute. SOme of the UCs such as Irvine (I think), Riverside and some lesser known ones have some great merit scholarship packages as well where full costs can be covered. To get the sort from UCLA is very competitive and difficult. But when should college include the cost of room and board? OP could probably gotten a much less expensive option as she seems to be a very qualified student. It’s just not going to be at UCLA. Hurts, when she as a young person feels she has earned the right to go there as she has earned the acceptance for performing well academically. It’s a tough thing to realize that in this country, higher education is not guaranteed. In many countries, no education is guaranteed and money is absolutely needed for even kids to get schooling. Here we ensure free education up through highschool, but beyond that money is needed with a lot of places to look for the money, but no easy one way for all the possibilities. Enough to drive anyone nuts.</p>