[imsteve]

1. If your parents make 100k+ but don't want to spend it on your education, you're screwed.

2. If you're not a spoiled only child and your parents have to divide that money up then you're screwed.

#1 angers me especially. Parents I know don't do that anymore, especially when colleges rape us with such obscene tuitions while doing relatively little to improve the education.

[Xichekolas]

or

3. If your parents make 100k+, but through financial stupidity, have nothing saved up for your education and no disposable income.

Happened to me. Here is a financial tidbit for anyone out there... don't buy a $40k car every two years. They tend to depreciate severely and leave you with nothing to show for it and a big monthly car payment. </bitter>

[jimbokun]

"1. If your parents make 100k+ but don't want to spend it on your education, you're screwed."

With tuition and expenses running 40k+ a year, I think that could put a crimp in the budget of a family making a little more than 100k+.

[imsteve]

I don't know how much you paid for your school -- but with math like that I'm sure you paid too much.

But anyway, how the heck can you blame the kid if the parents are tight with their money?

[neilc]

Assuming you'd be expected to pay full tuition and board, which you surely would not.

[imsteve]

I did after the first two years.

[randrews]

In case #1, were you better off before this change?

It is possible to become not-a-dependent through paperwork-fu, also, in which case a student would qualify if they make under $100k (likely).

[natrius]

"2. If you're not a spoiled only child and your parents have to divide that money up then you're screwed."

Financial aid calculations typically take siblings into account.

[imsteve]

Didn't for several of my sisters, FYI.

[nostrademons]

Did for my family, again FYI. My sister's financial aid package nearly doubled when I went to college, and mine dropped off fairly significantly in my last year when she graduated. Rice and Amherst.

[far33d]

If your parents make $101k, they don't charge you full price.

[mrtron]

Lets say your dad makes 55k and your mom makes 55k, I think your family would save a ton overall by having your mom or dad take an early retirement.