<p>“As for cost, I am a bit wary about the schools around 40k tuition per year, but I’m planning on applying to a good range of schools in terms of cost, then allowing that to factor in after I discover which ones I have been accepted to.”</p>
<p>Do sit your parents down and get a baseline figure. That way you will know how deep you have to dig to find your financial safeties. Be sure to have at least one place on your list that
a) you can afford without any aid other than guaranted federal (FAFSA) aid and/or guaranteed state aid and/or guaranteed aid from that college/university;
b) you are certain of admission based on your stats (a lot of public institutions post this on their websites);
c) offers your projected major(s);
and
d) you will be happy to attend if you don’t get in anywhere else that you can afford.
In New York State, you will probably find some decent safety schools within the SUNY and CUNY systems.</p>