- Do QuestBridge even if your income is on the border especially if you've had any other difficulties in your life. Note how your parent are not willing to pay on your application. I can't guarantee you'll get it, but it's worth a shot.
- Use SAT/ACT waivers if you qualify. It will make it easier for you to waive application fees.
- Apply to a mix of selective schools with good financial aid, schools with a ton of merit, and state schools. Really shop around for aid since you can't be sure where you'll be financially. Ivys and top LACs will give you the best need based aid, merit aid can also be really helpful at schools that have it, but make sure you have a backup school that you can afford--most likely this will be a state school.
But in my and many other cases attending Harvard, Yale, and the like are cheaper than state school. Of course you’d have to get in at first, but it’s worth it for financial reasons.
Apply to outside scholarships. Like junior year and early senior year are excellent times to start looking. If you wait till senior year after you’ve been accepted, you’ll be much more limited.