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jc,

I am with you, beleive it or not, and I am one to defend the liberal side of issues often.

I think our entire gov't funded college education system needs to be revamped.

I am not sure it has anything to do with your plight but I feel loans should be given on a career-return basis.

For instance, given the shortage of nurses, the gov't may lend up to 80% of programs for that. You want to major in philosophy or political science, the taxpayor only chips in 20%.

As it stands now, the gov't just gives/lends money away indiscriminately and based on financial need, which I agree, doesn't seem right. And savings should not count towards financial aid - you don't punish a family for saving but then again, that's Reag-o-nomics - it encourages borrowing and living on the margin.

Oh, and one more thing - take comfort in the fact that a lot of the "best schools" are all just hype. State schools give you a fine education.

They asked former President Clinton if he thought that Yale was worth it and he diplomatically remarked: "It wasn't the education so much as much as I made lifelong contacts that allowed me to ascend to the Presidency."

So. . .unless you have aspirations of being a politician. . .let your girlfriend borrow for Yale, Princeton or Harvard.

They even have grade inflation at these places now - everyone gets an A. It means nothing anymore.