Why I like this forum

Paying for College
1

<p>I thought I'd take just a moment to thank all of you regular contributors for taking the time to answer all these questions. This is one of my favorite boards to read. And I think the reason why I like it so much is that you are all so realistic.</p>

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<li><p>At this forum, "community college" is not a dirty word, but a viable, even smart, option for students looking to make college affordable. It doesn't get as much respect on other forums.</p></li>
<li><p>You'll say to a student, "Hey, congratulations on your acceptance to one of the highfalutin schools, but you can't afford it."</p></li>
<li><p>You do point out to the high income or high asset folks that a. you're responsible for your own child's education and b. you've got assets; sure, you don't want to spend them, but honestly? think about the kids with little or nothing. (I work for a TRIO SSS program; people who want somebody else to pay for their child's education because they don't want to spend their own money are kind of a pet peeve. They've got no true sense about what some of these low income kids are up against.)</p></li>
<li><p>You remind folks that very few colleges can meet full need. And that loans are a fact of college life for most.</p></li>
</ol>

2

<p>Totally agree with you ordinarylives! I personally have learned so much from reading this site and truly have felt empowered when applying for aid for my D and in interpreting the fin aid packages. We just came back from an AOH where we attended a fin aid meeting. After asking a couple of questions of the FAO, parents sitting around us, turned to me to ask me to explain some terms and things to them. Some had no idea what the SAR was or where you find it. They thanked me for asking the questions. It’s because of reading this forum that I have the knowledge to help others.</p>

3

<p>Yes, I just wish more students and parents would come here soph or jr year BEFORE developing a list of colleges to apply to rather than AFTER they get their FA package(s) and they realize the hard, cold facts of financing a college education.</p>

4

<p>Yes, there is this big fat lie going around saying that good students will be getting offers of great scholarships at all of these name brand schools. Instead, the parents get a big fat bill for college if the kids are lucky enough to get accepted to such school, and often to schools not of their top choices.</p>