Working on college list

I just read this piece this morning. It explains what often happens when families don’t sit down together and figure out what they can actually afford. This student (IMHO) could have been spared a lot of heartache if she’d found safeties that had some of the qualities she was hoping for in her “dream school.” She shouldn’t have been left with a such stark choice.

https://www.road2college.com/giving-up-your-dream-college-to-graduate-debt-free/

Maybe share it with your folks?

All things considered, this young woman did just fine. Her parents had saved some money for her college education, and she made a smart, informed decision, given her options. Oftentimes, things turn out much, MUCH worse, but that doesn’t diminish her lasting disappointment.

Do everything you can NOW to avoid the pitfalls, first and foremost of which is to get your folks to give you some financial parameters. I’ll be honest - the fact that they won’t at this late date suggests to me that there may be pressures you’re not aware of.

They haven’t 100% assured or denied anything. I feel like we’re doing okay financially, they’re trying to buy a house right now which would cost more than 4 years at any college. I can’t see them not paying for Alabama but I can’t say anything for sure because they’re refusing to give me clear answers, but I know they’ll make sure I have a way to afford one of my schools as long as I at least apply to the safeties that I have picked out.

If any of the automatic full rides for your stats is at a school you like, be sure to apply there.

If they buy an expensive house, they may not have the money left to help you with college.

Evasiveness means that you should assume the worst case of their contribution being $0.

Thanks, I’ll look at the automatic full rides.
I think they would tell me if their contribution was $0 though, and since they keep telling me that I can apply to anywhere that I want I feel like they’re going to contribute something. They wouldn’t put me in a situation where I would get into a school then not be able to afford to go to it.

Without telling you the price limit, they are setting you up exactly for that to happen.

I think you just need to be direct with your parent(s) - at this point Bama will run you approx $25K with the UA Scholar award, and Vanderbilt $65k (??). Ask if they will pay $160k more to go to Vanderbilt.

I’ve been direct with them, they just won’t tell me. When I ask, they say it’s too early to know, and that I should apply wherever I want to.

First of all you have a great list for your stats, career goals and campus-life interests. Well done! My D18 will be at Vandy in the fall (in the Peabody school majoring in Chemistry and Secondary Education with a minor in HOD) and it really is a great school! Very impressive in so many ways! Definitely look at University of Richmond and Wake Forest (D18 got into Richmond, but was waitlisted at Wake) as they are both great schools, have good sports to watch and strong Greek life (like Alabama) but also very academic (like Vandy). Super friendly students at both schools!

Lucky for you, it seems as though cost is really not an issue for your parents (or they are in complete avoidance of the issue because of the tension it creates and they don’t want you to feel that - which is nice of them!) However another cost that you haven’t factored in is the cost of being Greek, especially at The University of Alabama (which is my alma mater BTW… Roll Tide!) Our family friend’s daughter just finished her freshman year at The Capstone and they said her sorority expense came in around $8,000. I was in a sorority ‘back in the day’ and our house bills were about $2,600/year. Most people don’t realize that being Greek at a large school with houses that the sisters live in (not just for meetings!) isn’t like signing up to be in the Environmental Club or being on SGA. Just wanted to mention that so it could be factored into your budget when the time comes. I would hate for you to be excited to be in T-Town and then have your parents say, we can pay for out-of-state school but not the extras.

Good luck and Rooolll Tide Roll!

It is not nice to defer the tension until April, when it is too late to make a financially suitable application list.

@ucbalumnus True. But maybe they are just hashing it out on the sidelines instead of involving their child (which is the mature thing to do). Regardless, they may truly just be fine with whatever - maybe they saved and just don’t want to disclose it to each other. My D18 has a BFF who got into Duke ED and her parents are full pay; they were both Duke grads so it was encouraged for her to apply and to do so ED. They are fine with it and can handle the financials (including sorority!). She was NMF so will get a little there and then got a small local scholarship for $1K… so they only have about $65K a year vs $68K… plus sorority (not too much at a smaller school).

The FAFSA and other financial aid papers are filled in October senior year, using 2016 returns. If your parents won’t tell you what they can afford, ask them if they will be ready in October when the papers are due?
Also, the new house will chanfe your status in the the money they spend in it won’t be in their savings for your college and it’ll add to your listed assets increasing your EFC.
There’s no reason for you to have Baylor on your list since you don’t want a religious school and you won’t get merit aid. I agree Wake and URichmond are better for you if you like Vandy.

Thanks!
I’m pretty sure my parents won’t actually be buying the new house until after I graduate from high school.
My parents told me that the reason they don’t know what we can afford is because we haven’t filled out the FASFA yet, so they will be ready in October.
I honestly think that I’m fine with a religious school, and I thought that I would get merit aid from Baylor, but I’ll take it off my list since that’s not true.

Should I be trying to get my list finalized over the summer so I know where I’ll be applying or should I wait until I know what my family can afford and until I get my acceptance from Alabama?

MODERATOR’S NOTE:
Closing thread. OP has an updated question.
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/2087812-still-confused-about-college-list.html#latest