Originally Posted by bluemagic
Originally Posted by DAD22
Originally Posted by binip
We never even considered top-tier schools like MIT, Harvard, etc. though we'd both received invitations to apply based on SAT scores.

Maybe you should have, because many top-tier schools have need-blind admissions and give large grants to students without the financial means to pay the tuition.
Problem is many poorer districts don't expect as many of the students to go to university outside the local state school. Especially a top tier school and they don't have the resources like trained school counselors, informational meetings for parents, and colleges touring their schools. Poorer students (irregardless of race) often don't know the possibilities of what is out there or belief they even have a chance. The US system of applying for colleges, grants, scholarships, financial aid is complicated and often confusing.

You hit the nail on the head. We didn't know anything about needs-blind admission in our small town.

The guidance counselor literally told me that he didn't have any information for me but "with that you'll be just fine". He suggested that if I was worried about paying for college, I go part time (which most people know is a drop-out trap).