1. Denial: How am I going to pay for this?

College can’t really cost this much. I can’t afford this. There’s just no way. I literally cannot believe that college costs have soared so high since I was in school.

2. Anger: How am I going to pay for this?

This is ridiculous! It’s just slavery with extra steps! How do they expect anyone to be able to afford this!?

3. Bargaining: How am I going to pay for this?

I will do anything to afford this. There’s room to negotiate? Grants? Loans? Scholarships?

4. Depression: How am I going to pay for this?

We’ll never be able to afford this. I just want to sit in bed and eat ice cream. My children will be paying off this debt for the next seven generations.

5. Acceptance: How am I going to pay for this?

We can do this. We’ve got this. We can make this work. This is going to happen.