<p>Hey guys, I'm 17 and a senior at my school and I'm worrying if I can get any aid or scholarships from my mother passing away. My mom passed away when I was 11 on thanksgiving morning when my mom passed away in a hospital from melanoma cancer. Do you guys know anytype of thing I get get to help pay for college because of this? Any replies are apperciated.</p>
<p>Btw I now live with my aunt and she’s a single parent. If that helps anything.</p>
<p>Are you under your aunt’s legal guardianship? If so you will probably be independent for FA purposes which means only your own income and assets (if any) will be considered for FAFSA. Your aunt will not be reported on FAFSA unless she has legally adopted you, in which case she would be treated like any parent.</p>
<p>Do you have a Dad? If so then his data might be required, depending on the circumstances and on the school you attend. </p>
<p>I don’t know of any scholarships based on a parent having dies of cancer. They may exist. Do you have good statistics (SAT/ACT/GPA)?. Those are the best basis for scholarships at many schools.</p>
<p>Soccer, sometime there are private scholarships set up for students in very particular circumstance, or donors to a university specify that funds should be applied in a certain way … so there probably are some scholarships, somewhere, that are earmarked for students who are orphans or who suffered some specific type of hardship.</p>
<p>But in general, scholarships are not awarded that way. It’s not a pity thing – money given because the scholarship committee feels really sorry for the tough things the student went through growing up. Most scholarships are more of a reward thing – money given because the scholarship committee is really impressed with something that the student has done. Of course, rising up from adversity is something that can be impressive.</p>
<p>I’m sorry you lost your mom, but that fact probably isn’t going to be a basis for getting college money. However, if your father is also deceased-- and if your mom did not leave you with a large inheritance or life insurance benefits – then you may be in a stronger position than most students to qualify for need-based financial aid. Unless your aunt legally adopted you, she is not liable for your college costs, and so her income and assets won’t be counted when determining your EFC.</p>
<p>Yes my aunt did legally adopt me because I’ve never really lived with my dad before my mom just had full custodity on me because my parents seprated when I was little.</p>
<p>In that case your aunt’s financial information must be reported on FAFSA. What aid you are eligible for will depend on her income and assets and your income and assets (if you have any).</p>