How will you pay for college?

The college acceptance letters have arrived, and many families now face the scramble to find money to pay for the dream that has landed in their child’s inbox. It’s an issue that should have been discussed many months ago. Most financial aid packages offered by colleges will leave families with sticker shock.

But there are some steps families can take now if they can’t afford the school that accepted their child.

Eva Dodds of Root College Advising (rootcollegeadvising.com) is a professional college counselor. She helps families choose schools likely to accept their children and to provide financial aid. Dodds stresses that knowledge is power, and that needs-based financial aid and merit aid is still being allocated during the month of May. So it’s not too late to get more aid or find a school that will be more affordable. And if college is a year or more away for your child, here’s where to start.

Know the cost of each college. Every school posts the cost of attendance (including tuition, room and board, and books and fees) on its website. Just Google the school name and the words “cost of attendance” to get not only the “sticker price” but the average cost — after financial aid.

Know the expected financial contribution (EFC). This is the amount parents might be expected to pay, based on their income, assets, number of students in school and other family characteristics. The best online EFC calculator can be found at Finaid.org (https://finaid.org/calculators/finaidestimate/). Family income, savings and other information goes into this calculator, so consider doing this privately and not with your child at your side.

Compare college costs and expected payments. Go to MyinTuition.org and see the realistic cost and aid breakdown for each school your child is considering based on the input of your family’s financial situation. Now, discuss this issue openly with your child.