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Something to keep in mind when we read the numbers showing that more than half of students at many schools are on financial aid...This doesn't necessarily mean they are getting financial aid from that particular school.

The finaid office told us today that we are eligible for a *tiny* amount of aid. It is about enough to buy a hamburger, only exaggerating slightly here. (We certainly hope that by the time our second is in college, we will get enough for a burger and fries lol). By an amazing coincidence, ds has an outside scholarship in the EXACT AMOUNT which the university has determined to be our supposed need. Therefore, we get nothing from the school. "Just wondering," I asked. "Is our son considered a financial aid student?"

The answer was yes.

"But," I said, "he's not actually getting any money from you."

"But if he didn't have the outside scholarship," came the answer, "the need would still be there. So he's in our system."

I am still working on this concept, but I just can't wrap my brain around it.