Sometimes

 I just want to throw my head back and howl. Today is one of those days.  Last night my daughter and I had what might be one of many arguments about college.   I also went to the parents meeting at her high school about the college application process.  Which I found added another level of deadlines and expectations to the process.  We are a bit behind the curve on this entire selecting a college thing. I whigged out a bit on my daughter.  At times we are oil and water.  No we are more like fire and match.  I tend to want to have a plan, and not just one one plan, several alternate plans and she is more like --just roll with it--- We both leave these conversations with rolling eyes, heavy sighs and a bit of drama ( these traits of hers--she inherited from me).   She has several schools on her wish list, that frankly we can not afford.  College costs have risen at twice the rate of inflation and a 4 year degree at a state school in Texas/w room and board is close to 20,000 per year.  A out of state tuition college choice is nearly double the in-state price and private universities are any where from 20,000 to 50,000 a year.  It's insane.  Simply insane.  Her top 2 choices are out of state colleges with no out of state waiver policy---and simply the 42,000 a year is not within the budget.  As far as financial aid based on need, we will not qualify, we make to much to qualify for need based assistance and not enough to pay outright.  We are in the proverbial between a rock and a hard place.  Some schools offer small merit scholarships that perhaps she could qualify for, but likely not enough to meet the gap.  So we are still struggling to find a good fit for her, that has her degree, that we can afford, and that she is excited about.  I hope we find one quickly.  I would really love to spend this last year together enjoying being a family.