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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Long story short: we will not get any financial aid. We make too much for help but don't make enough to go full pay at a private in a way that leaves any wiggle room.

We are just starting this process, and child is an athlete that is in the midst of recruiting (only D3 at this point b/c of NCAA limits- and FTR I don't care if DC plays a sport or not but she does). I'm looking at the finances of the various schools and was shocked to learn that some of the schools she's been talking to give NO MERIT aid. DC has excellent grades, community service, ECs, and athletics.

I get she's one of many like man others . . . and I know at DC there are no athletic scholarships. [b]But, how are people affording places like Wellesley[/b]? Their website and what I'm finding says they give ZERO aid on the basis that, essentially, "everyone there is special."

Yes, she can look elsewhere. And she is. But it is so sad to have to shut down a possibility that would, honestly, be such a perfect fit for her in every way. With room and board, etc. the cost per year is nearly $80K!!!! Two years would eat up more than our 529 has in it. Super bummed to have to limit her.
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They are either poor enough to get a lot of aid, rich enough to not need it, or had parents putting away a lot of money from conception. [/quote]

Well it is no shock that top schools would cost ~$80K/year when my kid would enter college.  So we did plan for that and sock away as much as we could from an early age, as we knew we wouldn't qualify for any FA.  Had we not been able to do that, our kid would have had to search out more affordable schools. [/quote]

Congratulations on making enough money to save 320k per kid? [/quote]

No, it's congratulation on planning.  Anyone smart enough to save $160K should be smart enough to know that college will be up to $80K/year in 2022.  SO if attending those "Top schools" is important you plan accordingly. 
Had we not been able to save enough, I would have set the mindset with my kids that while you can apply to T40 schools, we might not be able to afford them.  So, you need to have a balanced list of college choices.  To me, the most important part is finding great schools that are affordable to YOU.  And there are many, many, many choices available for everyone.  The OP has ~$40K/year saved for DD.  There are literally hundreds of amazing options that will allow DD to graduate debt free.  If only the OP would change their mindset and focus on what's available instead of complaining.

Similarly, I don't buy a house/car/vacation that I can't afford.  I live within my means, or deal with the consequences.  I don't expect others to compensate me for my lack of planning.  OP could likely now cash flow another $10K+/year if they wanted to, based on their statements.  So if the Top college is that important, they can do that and take parent loans and pay them off now that they have a higher income.  (not saying I'd recommend that, as I actually think that's a bad idea----no school is worth going into debt for). But there are options.  Smartest option (IMO) is to find a great school list that is affordable....and many many exist, just not T20 schools.  [/quote]

OP here. I guess I should have been smart enough not to acquire nearly $150K in medical bills due to cancer, as well?

Why don't you just stop with the speculation about what I should have done. We did all we could. And we saved a lot, notwithstanding that.

I never said my child did not have other options and wasn't considering other options. As I said, I grew up dirt poor and went to a non-elite school. I simply lamented HAVING to cross off schools -which are a perfect fit for her- solely based on finances. Especially when we saved aggressively for it. It sounds like people in the middle (too much money, but not enough) just can't go to these schools. [/quote]

But, OP, pretty much everyone has to cross off certain schools that are a great fit, due to finances. Why did you think you’d be different? Why are you so angry? I’m sorry about your cancer but that should’ve been even more reason for you guys to realize that elite and expensive schools may not be possible. Or did you really live in a dream world where you thought the Wellesleys of the world needed to hand out merit aid to UMC kids?[/quote]

I was thinking the same. Mine was interested in UMich and W&M (OOS), but they were out of our price range. No fafsa based aid at our middle class income and little merit available.  Our efc was 45k. Mine ended up getting good aid from top need schools that use CSS with great offers from Northwestern and Wesleyan. OP,  if your income doesn't qualify you for any aid, it must be quite good. If you are still recovering from medical costs, you can always try to submit a special circumstances or appeal to FA office. Also, you have a few more years to save and can keep paying some as you go during college. Plus, take a few loans.  It's possible if that's what your kid really wants. We also had state flagship with awesome merit as a good alternative.

Your kid will have options.  It's just not the scenario you'd hoped for or envisioned. 
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