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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]So, I have a different take on this thread. I'm helping a family where the HHI is $40K. Their student qualifies for a full ride (minus $2-5K) at every school they are considering. The family had NO IDEA this was true until I showed them how the NPC worked, walked them through the CSS, etc. Now the student can apply to many more schools. I am doing this as volunteer work, but it might apply to OP's family, too. Sometimes people don't know what they don't know and it can disadvantage their kids needlessly.[/quote]
So this I could have used as a child. I didn't know I could have gotten full rides at schools or how to manage the FA game. I likely could have gotten into a fancier school than I did in an affordable way if I didn't just throw spaghetti at the wall. I had a perfect SAT and still didn't get good advice. However, I still wouldn't appreciate the condescension or pity I heard in OP's offer of support.[/quote]

This may be true. But, would you have fit in and graduated?  People who have been to college know how college works and support their kids with knowledge as well as money. Class registration, add/drop, housing, withdrawals from classes or college for a semester for health reasons, direct admit majors, applying to majors after freshman year. Etc. Etc. Could you have navigated it with no support?  Even with financial aid, could your family help at all?  How much would you have had to work?  How much debt?  How would you have faired socially in a place where everyone had money to go out but you?

Most schools have only recently begun to address the issues of high first gen dropout rates. Most still don’t do it well. 20 years ago? You were on your own at many colleges.

This article about what happened to first gen kids at Indiana sums it up. Rich kids know how to self advocate and solve problems. First Gen thinks they must take their lumps and leave. Really fascinating (gift link)

https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/04/education/edlife/elizabeth-a-armstrong-on-her-book-paying-for-the-party.html?unlocked_article_code=1.AE0.WxMq.gL0ZRcyQkuvh&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare[/quote]

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