Anonymous
10/31/2025 11:00
Subject: Sad that I can’t afford a top school for DD.
Anonymous wrote:I can’t afford a top school for DD unless I spend my life savings, which I’m not willing to do.
But I’m sad that she worked hard in high school and can’t apply to anything that will cost more than in state.
Her friends are applying to ivy schools because they qualify for financial aid and they can afford to go there if they get in.
DD could likely get into a top 20 school but wouldn’t get merit aid there.
Just a vent.
How did you spend your money OP? We didn't go on fancy international vacations. We watched others do this with some envy but guess what, now they can't afford out of state private colleges and we can.
Anonymous
10/31/2025 10:49
Subject: Sad that I can’t afford a top school for DD.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:ROTC
Ok ROTC does not work that way (speaking as someone with a kid in ROTC and no money at the moment). Getting a scholarship is incredibly competitive - somewhat easier once you hit your junior year and potentially commission, but still far from a sure thing.
I just hear this casually mentioned here all the time and I wanted to correct the record.
Did ROTC. Husband did ROTC. 2 kids already commissioned through ROTC. Next is a Junior in ROTC. All with 4 year scholarships. This is not mentioned casually. People are encouraging the student to apply to selective schools. This is an additional selective way to pay for college.
Bonus is that most can go active duty upon commissioning and have a job.
Honored to have served our nation. It is a wonderful program.
I respect that, but no way on h&ll would I want one of my kids in the military with who we have in Office and the way the world is going. It’s not 1940s go fight for democracy and get the bad guys anymore—it’s the opposite.
Anonymous
10/31/2025 10:48
Subject: Sad that I can’t afford a top school for DD.
I went to an Ivy and 7 years after graduation I was working at a desk next to someone at a desk doing the same job I was doing after she went to State college.
We both are doing fine.
We both are doing fine.
Anonymous
10/31/2025 10:44
Subject: Re:Sad that I can’t afford a top school for DD.
There are a lot of excellent schools that give good merit aid. I don't see an issue.
Anonymous
10/31/2025 10:42
Subject: Re:Sad that I can’t afford a top school for DD.
There are a lot of excellent schools that give good merit aid. I don't see an issue.
Anonymous
10/31/2025 10:33
Subject: Re:Sad that I can’t afford a top school for DD.
Anonymous wrote:I was a kid whose only involved parent couldn't afford anything at all and whose other parent was alive and wealthy but unwilling to spend a dime, hence no financial aid. I was admitted to a top school, borrowed everything through a combination of government and private loans and some local scholarships and competitions. I paid it all back with minimum difficulty after med school. Debt was gone by age 36.
This was another time
OP, don't do this.
There will be turmoil in the workplace and this country for the foreseeable future. (AI, politics, inflation, etc. Take your pick)
Saddling your child with large debt that can’t be discharged by bankruptcy seems to be burdening them in a dangerous way.
Anonymous
10/31/2025 10:27
Subject: Sad that I can’t afford a top school for DD.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I can’t afford a top school for DD unless I spend my life savings, which I’m not willing to do.
But I’m sad that she worked hard in high school and can’t apply to anything that will cost more than in state.
Her friends are applying to ivy schools because they qualify for financial aid and they can afford to go there if they get in.
DD could likely get into a top 20 school but wouldn’t get merit aid there.
Just a vent.
You can get 20k merit at a lot of great schools. Be a little more flexible with those so the choices are not just state schools. You can afford that…Grinnell, for instance, 20k merit minimum if you apply ED…
People on this board and...Iowa are something else
People on this board thing UVA and Michigan are Harvard.
Anonymous
10/31/2025 10:22
Subject: Sad that I can’t afford a top school for DD.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I can’t afford a top school for DD unless I spend my life savings, which I’m not willing to do.
But I’m sad that she worked hard in high school and can’t apply to anything that will cost more than in state.
Her friends are applying to ivy schools because they qualify for financial aid and they can afford to go there if they get in.
DD could likely get into a top 20 school but wouldn’t get merit aid there.
Just a vent.
You can get 20k merit at a lot of great schools. Be a little more flexible with those so the choices are not just state schools. You can afford that…Grinnell, for instance, 20k merit minimum if you apply ED…
People on this board and...Iowa are something else
Anonymous
10/31/2025 10:21
Subject: Sad that I can’t afford a top school for DD.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I can’t afford a top school for DD unless I spend my life savings, which I’m not willing to do.
But I’m sad that she worked hard in high school and can’t apply to anything that will cost more than in state.
Her friends are applying to ivy schools because they qualify for financial aid and they can afford to go there if they get in.
DD could likely get into a top 20 school but wouldn’t get merit aid there.
Just a vent.
You dont know that. Try. You will regret not having.
Yes you do. Look it up here, and don’t pursue pipe dreams of schools offering 2% of kids merit:
https://www.collegetransitions.com/dataverse/merit-aid/
Anonymous
10/31/2025 10:19
Subject: Sad that I can’t afford a top school for DD.
Anonymous wrote:I can’t afford a top school for DD unless I spend my life savings, which I’m not willing to do.
But I’m sad that she worked hard in high school and can’t apply to anything that will cost more than in state.
Her friends are applying to ivy schools because they qualify for financial aid and they can afford to go there if they get in.
DD could likely get into a top 20 school but wouldn’t get merit aid there.
Just a vent.
You can get 20k merit at a lot of great schools. Be a little more flexible with those so the choices are not just state schools. You can afford that…Grinnell, for instance, 20k merit minimum if you apply ED…
Anonymous
10/31/2025 10:10
Subject: Sad that I can’t afford a top school for DD.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:ROTC
Ok ROTC does not work that way (speaking as someone with a kid in ROTC and no money at the moment). Getting a scholarship is incredibly competitive - somewhat easier once you hit your junior year and potentially commission, but still far from a sure thing.
I just hear this casually mentioned here all the time and I wanted to correct the record.
Rotc/nrotc at an ivy = tuition free + housing of $20k owed by the kid/family
Kids get a $300+ stipend each month. They never need money. Yes- R&B is not included at Ivy schools- but is included at some.
Anonymous
10/31/2025 10:07
Subject: Sad that I can’t afford a top school for DD.
OP - you're being a snob for no reason
Anonymous
10/31/2025 10:05
Subject: Sad that I can’t afford a top school for DD.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:ROTC
Ok ROTC does not work that way (speaking as someone with a kid in ROTC and no money at the moment). Getting a scholarship is incredibly competitive - somewhat easier once you hit your junior year and potentially commission, but still far from a sure thing.
I just hear this casually mentioned here all the time and I wanted to correct the record.
Did ROTC. Husband did ROTC. 2 kids already commissioned through ROTC. Next is a Junior in ROTC. All with 4 year scholarships. This is not mentioned casually. People are encouraging the student to apply to selective schools. This is an additional selective way to pay for college.
Bonus is that most can go active duty upon commissioning and have a job.
Honored to have served our nation. It is a wonderful program.
Anonymous
10/31/2025 10:02
Subject: Sad that I can’t afford a top school for DD.
Anonymous wrote:I can’t afford a top school for DD unless I spend my life savings, which I’m not willing to do.
But I’m sad that she worked hard in high school and can’t apply to anything that will cost more than in state.
Her friends are applying to ivy schools because they qualify for financial aid and they can afford to go there if they get in.
DD could likely get into a top 20 school but wouldn’t get merit aid there.
Just a vent.
You dont know that. Try. You will regret not having.
Anonymous
10/31/2025 10:00
Subject: Re:Sad that I can’t afford a top school for DD.
Anonymous wrote:I was a kid whose only involved parent couldn't afford anything at all and whose other parent was alive and wealthy but unwilling to spend a dime, hence no financial aid. I was admitted to a top school, borrowed everything through a combination of government and private loans and some local scholarships and competitions. I paid it all back with minimum difficulty after med school. Debt was gone by age 36.
Almost 20 years of payments and you likely became a high wage earner when your education was complete. Many kids aren’t getting that salary.