Hey mate, check this out!
I’m almost in the same circumstances with the exception that I didn’t ‘waste’ a year but I have the same financial situation so this is what I’m going to do, maybe it works for you too.
- Take out the universities that award the most financial aid from this website https://■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/pulse/us-higher-education-institutions-awarding-most-financial-yoko-kono
- Put them in an excel file
- add cost of attendance, TOEFL score requirement (some of them waive this) whether they have 'need-aware' or 'need-blind' admissions FOR internationals, and find out if they meet full need for admitted students.
- Discard the ones that not offer your interested majors (STEM majors/Liberal Arts majors). 5.Go to EducationUSA, ask for advice, and show them the excel file (add more institutions if they help you to provide them).
- Study REALLY HARD for the standardized tests (since you are in a gap year, you can study 24/7 literally).
- Try to extracurriculars that interest you (don't do them just to get into elite schools, I think they know when applicants do that).
- Review each of your options and see which ones fit better for you.
- Sit down with your parents and your edUSA advisor if possible, talk about your finances and try to get the most out of your resources, this can help
Fastweb
https://www.fastweb.com
Searchable database scholarships.
College Scholarships
https://www.collegescholarships.com
Fee-based scholarship application service.
Funding for United States Study
https://www.fundingUSstudy.org
Database of over 500 scholarships, fellowships and grants for international students, organized and maintained by the Institute of International Education (IIE).
GrantsNet.org
https://www.grantsnet.org
Database of grants for training in the sciences and undergraduate science education.
International Education Financial Aid
https://www.iefa.org/public/search.html
Free searchable database of over 800 scholarships and awards for international students. Most are restricted to use at specific universities.
https://www.internationalscholarships.com
Comprehensive listing of grants, scholarships, loan programs, and other financial aid information to assist college and university students in their pursuit to study abroad.
https://internationalstudent.com/schools_awarding_aid
Database of U.S. higher education institutions awarding scholarships to international students.
Organization of American States’ Leo S. Rowe Fund
https://www.oas.org/rowe/
This program provides loans of up to $15,000 USD for undergraduate students in their last two years of study or any graduate student. It is for citizens of Latin American countries.
NAFSA Financial Aid for Undergraduates
https://www.nafsa.org/students.sec/financial_aid_for_undergraduate
This resource provides information primarily for students with nonimmigrant visas (F-1, J-1, etc.). Information for permanent residents of the United States is also included.
https://www.mycollegescholarship.org
Advice on how to apply for scholarships.
US Department of State - Education USA
https://www.educationusa.info
The Department of State provides support to a network of Educational Advising/Information Centers around the world. These centers advise prospective international students and other audiences on higher education and study opportunities in the United States.
- Apply (don't forget that your interest in those institutions is shown in your application) and hope the best.
That’s all the advice I can provide you. Money shouldn’t be a factor for your education but that’s how the things are:
If you are an excellent or OK student and you have money, you will have plenty of options. 
If you are an excellent student but you don’t have the money, you have a shot. [-O<
If you are an OK student but you don’t have the money, you are fried. 