Reply to Did anyone get more than $30K in merit aid at private college?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Yes, DC did - $100,000 over four years but I'd rather not say where.  One  of the little known secrets is that College Board and ACT sell their scores.  So if your child scores very high and has listed some qualities that a particular school wants (on the questions starting at the top of the tests), then schools can buy the lists and solicit.  DC participated in well known leadership program during the summer so received unsolicited offers from military academies.  I'm assuming that list was purchased or newspapers were just scanned.  DC scored extremely well on the ACT so has been receiving "pre-application" offers of scholarships.  But they are not from schools DC wants to attend.  The schools either need the high ACT scores to boost their ratings on the US News & World Report or they need males or they need minorities, etc.  
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OP here. $100K over four years will not meet our budget at a private college. Most cost $60K or more now, even the relatively small, not very selective ones. [/quote]

[b]The sad reality is that $100k over four years may not be enough to pay for your in-state public, either. For Virginia residents, the cost of attending W&M was ~$30k this year; UVA was ~$28k. Other VA schools are cheaper.[/quote][/b]

That's why I suggested that OP's kid stay home and do community college for two years and then transfer to a state university.  FWIW, the tuition at GMU ranges between 9,900 and 10,500 (you pay be the creidt) and room and board is MORE than tuition at $14,000, so annual outlay for everything is $24,000.  The fees at VA schools vary somewhat but if OP is willing to file for the FAFSA and go through tthe financial aid process, I'm pretty sure she'll find something workable with work-study options or loans.  If not, then you still have secured an admission.  Go back and take two years at community college (make sure your child knows the classes that are required by the VA university they want to attend and the GPA they must attain - they differ for each university) and then transfer for those last two years.  Viola!  UVA on $60K or less.[/quote]

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