8) Amanda has five grandchildren, all of whom are of college age. She knows that to avoid paying a sizeable estate tax upon her death, she will have to make some timely, smart, sizeable transfers. Amandas goal is to help each grandchild pay for college, and at the same time minimize any gift and estate transfer taxes. The grandchildren attend Stanford, Notre Dame, UCLA, Northwestern, and the University of Connecticut. Assume that the tuition for each grandchild is $55,000 per year, and room and board is another $13,000 per year. Which of the following suggestions gives Amanda the best result? (Assume the unified credit does not apply for this question.)

a: Amanda pays the tuition directly to each college, and gives each grandchild a check for $13,000 to pay for room and board.

b: Amanda gives each grandchild a check for $68,000.

c: Amanda gives each college a check for $15,000.

d: None of the above.