Essay Your younger cousin Mary is a rising senior in high school this year and has been researching the cost of attendance at

several colleges. She emails you because she knows that you have just learned about paying for college and she has

some serious concerns. Here are some excerpts from her email:

Despite her strong academic performance in high school and her interest in pursuing a career in chemical

engineering, Mary reveals, "I'm starting to think that college just isn't worth it. I don't see how a college

degree is going to help me in the future if it costs so much. Aren't I better off just going straight into a job with

my high school degree and saving my money?"

• "I've been looking at the published costs of attendance on college websites, and they're insanely high! There's

no way my family and I can afford such prices."

"I know financial aid is available for students, but I don't know what types there are, let alon