<p>That is a slippery slope ...</p>
<p>I wish every state had a good affordble state school for students,but that's not the case either. Many states don't have great state schools and it's frustrating for parents. Our state school UConn rivals some privates at around 20.000, and some parents have found, with aid, private colleges that are cheaper. Some of our other state schools seem like warehouses and the brighter students complain about their classes being boring and easy, but they are there for financial reasons. Honor classes at Southern CT I'm told are more geared to English majors, not a broad range of majors. My old babysitter is making it work by going abroad and asking professors if she can help them, but is unhappy sometimes that her finances gave her very few choices.
I wish "The colleges that change lives" schools were more prevalent and affordable and that "B" students or any student that really wanted to learn and study, could find an environment that wasn't just geared to the upper-level students at the top colleges.</p>
<p>Every situation has solutions, but the "perfect solution" will never be.</p>
<p>I remember having mixed feelings as a child, we were making ends meet,but far from well off. My Dad worked 2 jobs, but no money for college. Grants were a available if we made about 3,000 less or so. My uncle worked 2 jobs, but one was under the table and had tips, so he did well. His children went to Quinnipiac for almost nothing because on paper he was making much less. My Dad just couldn't lie to save his life and couldn't do that. I understand now both sides, but the lines for loans/grants as Kelsmom has stated are firm and they always existed. Sometimes things aren't fair but you do what you can. I wish my daughters could do Questbridge but I don't want to be making that much less, so I let it go. We always seem to be "just out of the range" but I'm glad we can be where we are. I just think "where we are" should have more options.</p>