<p>Now that I am starting to finalize my list of schools that I'd like to apply to, I am continually pressed with the issue of paying for my college education. My parents make between $100-150k a year, but do not believe it to be their responsibility to help me pay (in any major way) - an issue faced by many students, I'm sure. Their assistance ends at the $10k in savings I will receive once I graduate from high school. My parents pay my two younger sisters' tuition at their private school ($20-30k in total), a mortgage and their own student loans, so I understand their choice not to pay. </p>
<p>Will colleges take into account the tuition my parents pay for my younger sisters although it is not college tuition? I worry that despite my parents being unable to pay my tuition, we're going to get an incredibly high EFC. I'm applying to various colleges, including both private and public institutions - I would prefer to attend one of the former, but I'm not sure if this is reasonable given my situation. </p>
<p>What do you think? Any advice is much appreciated.</p>
<p>In answer to the title of your thread - run the net price calculators at the web site of every college you are interested in. Some colleges will take into account private school tuition paid for siblings, but most probably will not.</p>
<p>Have you calculated your EFC and run Net Price Calculators on the schools you are interested in? This is the only way to tell what you and your family may have to pay towards college. Then based on this information, you can start looking for schools that will offer good financial and merit aid.</p>
<p>You will receive very little, if any, financial aid at that income level. Some of the more expensive schools do consider private school tuition for younger siblings (at least they ask about it) but it will be a minor factor. The fact is that no one wants to pay for college, whether the family income is $50k or $150k. We’d rather use the money for other things, fun things. FAFSA does not consider tuition for younger (non-college) siblings.</p>
<p>You should look for schools that will give you merit aid if you think it is your responsibility to pay for college. Some public schools have merit awards, but the big money is usually found at private schools because you need more to attend a private school. You can look at community colleges in your area and live at home. $10k is not going to get you very far except at a community college.</p>
<p>With an income of $125,000 (I’m going halfway between the two amounts), your FAFSA EFC will be in the $31,500 to $41,000 range. Plus you need to remember that the FAFSA EFC is the MINIMUM your family will be expected to pay for college.</p>
<p>The vast majority of colleges do not guarantee to meet full need for all accepted students. You are not a low income family so the only guaranteed federal money you will see is the $5500 Direct loan for your freshman year. </p>
<p>FAFSA only schools will likely not consider the tuition your family pays for private school for your siblings. That is a choice your family is making. There is a free public school in your community. The choice to attend a private school is a choice. That money could be used for your college costs. </p>
<p>Some private universities will consider private HS tuition in their calculations…but really, that is not the norm at all and should not be counted on.</p>
<p>Do any of the private schools you are considering have guaranteed merit awards for your SAT or ACT scores and GPA? There is a pinned thread that has a thread in it for guaranteed merit awards based on stats. You need to look at that.</p>
<p>You need to run the Net Price Calculator on each college website to see your possible net costs at each school. Do them all as they will differ. This will give you a good idea whether the colleges will be affordable…or not.</p>
<p>Have you discussed post high school plans with your parents? What are they hoping you will be doing? </p>
<p>What are your SAT/ACT scores, and GPA?</p>
<p>Can you commute to a community college?</p>
<p>Even those schools that take into account private K-12 tuitions paid, do not give them a huge consideration unless sometimes when it’s a prep school that is associated directly to that college. I see that with some Catholic schools. As others have said, run the NPCs and see what your family is expected to pay. IF your parents truly won’t pay anything towards college, you need to look for local public options and merit scholarshipsYou are not likely to get more than half a college cost paid with what your parents make.</p>
<p>Some information that I should have added - my top two schools are Oberlin and OSU. I’m in IB, have taken and passed 5 AP tests, and am in the top 5% of my class (GPA 3.7 unweighted, 4.1 weighted). SAT - 2040 (690 Math, 690 CR), ACT - 30. Plan to take both again. I have also participated in Track and Cross Country for four years - varsity for 3 of those. Member of National Art Honors Society as of this year. Not really sure what my parents hope that I do.</p>
<p>Oberlin costs nearly $60,000 a year. Your parents will be expected to contribute upward of $30,000 with an income of $125,000…that is my estimate. If they will only contribute $10,000 for all four years, where will you get the money to pay the rest?</p>
<p>Are you a resident of Ohio? If so, there are other public universities where you might garner a merit award that could fund part of your costs. But your family EFC exceeds the instate cost of attending a public university in Ohio. You would not get need based aid.</p>
<p>Can you commute to any college?</p>
<p>Look at schools like Denison, Otterbein, Wittenburg. They have some good merit awards if your numbers are good. look at what merit awards OSU gives out. But also make sure you have some local state schools on your list. It is possible that commuting to a local state school ends up being your only financially feasible option.</p>
<p>I’m a resident of Ohio. I could commute to Kent State University or the University of Akron. Or live in either of those places…? In addition, I could get reasonable merit aid from Kent and am eligible for a full ride from Akron. But neither have the programs that I want or would provide me the connections I need in order to get a job when I graduate.</p>
<p>Unless you can get money from some source to pay for other college choices, you have to be flexible with the choices you have. Give it a try. Both OSU and Oberlin do give out merit money, but to get enough to pay for what they cost if your parents are not going to pitch in, may not be doable. You can apply to any number of schools and see what pans out. I know a young woman going to Kent State right now–she is commuting, and I don’t think this was her first choice, but it is doable and affordable for her. it was that or Cleveland State, in her case.</p>
<p>Um…people who graduate from Kent do get jobs! I’m from Ohio and know a number of past and recent Kent grads. </p>
<p>If your parents are giving you a total of $10,000 for,the rest of your life, you need to follow the money to attend college. Those college bills must be paid. A scholarship to Kent or Akron isn’t the worst thing in the world.</p>
<p>What major do you think is so special that you can’t get it at these schools?</p>
<p>Looks like your only affordable options are where you can get a full-ride or full-tuition scholarship and commute. If you really want a degree from OSU, you can spend no money to go to Akron, negotiate with your parents to save up, do well, and try to transfer to OSU (or somewhere else) after 2 years. Once both your siblings are in college, you may get more fin aid, though your parents would still be expected to pay a lot.</p>
<p>The public universities in Ohio do not guarantee to meet full need for all. When additional siblings are in college…there is NO guarantee that financial aid will increase. The EFC will go down…but that doesn’t mean aid will go up.</p>
<p>Ohio publics are NOT going to care that your sisters are in private schools. Your parents will be expected to pay all costs…unless you get some merit. </p>
<p>I doubt there will be any add’l aid at the Ohio schools even when the sisters are in college. Their EFC will still be beyond Pell. </p>
<p>Identify schools that will give you ASSURED HUGE merit for your stats.</p>
<p>What is your intended major and career goal???</p>