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I recommend looking at the US News Report on what the average SAT scores are for a particular school. Students should try to find a school where they are better than average (so they can succeed without killing themselves) but not so far up that the school will bore them.

Also, because of the way financial aid works, it can sometimes be cheaper to go to a private school than an public one.

because of the way financial aid works, it can sometimes be cheaper to go to a private school than an public one.

Now this is interesting.

I can only see this happening if your kid is so smart that he/she gets close to a full scholarship ( e.g. National Merit scholarship ).

I can also see this happening if you happen to come from a family that's not far from the poverty level ( just above ).

If you are middle class ( as most Americans are ), the chances of private college financial aid beating state schools are quite slim IMHO.

Case in point --- State of New York ( where I live ).

Consider Binghamton University ( AKA the poor man's Harvard around these parts ). The tuition for in-state students are a mere $6,000. If you can demonstrate some need, they'll cut it by half. Now consider private college, New York University... the tuition fee is $35,000 ( not considering board and lodgings which will add another $15,000 to the tab making it a total of $50,000 at least ). Most middle class smart kids get "aid" from NYU ( they have a very generous endowment fund 0. How much is the aid ? Well, they go from $10,000 to $15,000.

$35,000 minus $10,000 is still $25,000. That means even with their "aid", you still have to find a way to cough up the rest.... $25,000.

Multiply that by 4 and that's $100,000 you have to consider in loans if your kid will graduate in 4 years.

Is it worth going in debt by 100K for a 4 year degree ? I can't answer that for anyone else. For me, I know the answer is NO.

“Also, because of the way financial aid works, it can sometimes be cheaper to go to a private school than an public one.”

I found this to be true, sort of. Depends on the student, I guess. But for the two I have in college right now, the cost of private and state schools was very comparable, when the full aid package was on the table.