Anonymous wrote:When you were applying to undergrad, if you got into a top school and didn't attend, or didn't apply in the first place because you knew your family couldn't afford it or could only afford it by taking out big loans, how old are you?

I'm 46. I didn't apply because I knew my parents couldn't afford to pay for University so I went to the Community College instead.

After I finished there with an AA I worked for a few years and at 24yr. I transferred to GMU for my bachelor degree. Proudly, I paid for GMU all by myself.

65- only applied to university in my city. Grew up with 8 kids. Dad paid zero + we qualified for zero aid. I took 4 buses a day to get to + from school. Once in a blizzard, I walked 10 miles to get home.

I swore on the Bible if I ever had a kid, they would not go thru that. Had 1 kid. Went to HYP. So proud! Whoever says " it does not matter where you go to college" is wrong.

45, accepted at Princeton and Yale. I'm one of 4 siblings very close in age, one was already attending an Ivy and one got very sick my senior year of HS and finances became a larger concern. Went to UNC (significant merit scholarship) then to Yale for PhD (full scholarship and stipend). It worked out fine for my career. It's great that we have the UNC legacy bump for our kids, but the Princeton and Yale bump would be nicer.

40. I attended a T50 law school instead of a T10 law school because I got aid and didn't want any debt. Didn't hold me back in my career at all. No regrets.

My parents gave me a number and told me that was the total amount they had saved for me to go to college. They said that anything more would need to come from loans, grants, etc. So I only looked at schools that didn't cost more than they had, because they had raised me to fear debt more than anything. On the one hand, I graduated from a perfectly fine state school where I enjoyed my time. On the other hand, there were schools that offered things I really wanted that I never even seriously considered because my parents had so spooked me from even exploring loans as an option.

For my own kids (one in college and one applying next year) I talked about what student loan debt looks like and how it works in real life in terms of repayment. I told them what I could afford to contribute, how much debt I was willing to take on, and I put a ceiling on the amount of debt I felt comfortable allowing them to take on in their own names. This left the door open for a huge number of options. My oldest is at a small liberal arts school that was pushing the edge of my limits but because of merit-based grants we are actually at a much lower number than I expected.

Anonymous wrote:I'm 35. My parents had saved $80k (the cost of 4 years instate). I got into several ivies and similar that cost $40-45k/year, and turned them down because we thought I would get aid and didn't. Ended up graduating early from in state, so my college fund was able to supplement my siblings.

That is nice that you were able to help your siblings. I hope your college experience was a good one.

52

Was guided by my parents to only apply to in-state public universities.

47

Northwestern (Wildcats)
U of C (Maroons)

Back when it was much easier to get accepted!

Got into Yale, went to a 2nd tier midwestern SLAC on a full ride. My parents didn't want me to go too far away (we lived in the midwest) and couldn't afford it, and were 100% against even the slightest loan. Loved my time at the SLAC and ended up getting my PhD at a different Ivy so it all worked out. I'm 49.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Got into a top 20. Parents had a high income, high expenses and had saved nothing. They couldn't even afford the parent contribution for the state school. Attended a very low ranked private school on full scholarship and worked three jobs to make ends meet.

Age 43, btw.

Same story at 37 except I made up the family contribution for state school working.

I'm 42, got into two Ivies. Attended a "best buy" private college that offered me a half tuition scholarship.

49. Ivy engineering acceptance. Attended NC State Engineering on merit scholarship. First gen college grad.

Anonymous wrote:Got into a top 20. Parents had a high income, high expenses and had saved nothing. They couldn't even afford the parent contribution for the state school. Attended a very low ranked private school on full scholarship and worked three jobs to make ends meet.

Age 43, btw.

Got into a top 20. Parents had a high income, high expenses and had saved nothing. They couldn't even afford the parent contribution for the state school. Attended a very low ranked private school on full scholarship and worked three jobs to make ends meet.

54. My parents said in state only, or an in state private with a scholarship.

I went out of state for grad school I paid for myself and with loans and aid.