<p>Though applying for Questbridge is not in the immediate future for me, I felt it necessary to get a head start. I am in a special situation, and I am unsure as to how to what income I what provide for the Questbridge application. Before this school year, I lived with my mother (my parents divorced when I was five). It got to be unbearable to live with her however for multiple reasons (at times I wasn't even getting the basic necessities) in the least, and she had not had a job in 5 years. This past summer though, the court ordered that I live with my grandparents, and gave them the ability to put me in school, sign papers, etc. So now I live with my grandparents and thankfully it is much better! Anyways, my grandparents are retired and do not make much (less than 30,000 at least I believe), but my father gives my grandpa money every month (not technically child support, just a financial agreement they made prior to the court order). My father is doing this because he had to give my mother child support when I lived with her, and because my grandparents could simply not support my sister and I with just their income. However, the court case (it was an emergency hearing) does not explicitly state my grandparents as my "legal guardians" but rather just says I will reside with them. Despite this, all my school forms I put them as my legal guardians, and I put their income for free and reduced lunch income. I contacted the FAFSA hotline about this and they said I would be referred as an "independent" because I am in a guardianship with people who are not my biological parents. I will call again to verify this. However, I am not sure how QuestBridge would view my situation. I have very little contact with my mom now and see my father once every two months or during holidays occasionally. My dad says he does not file me and his tax returns. I am not sure about my mom (though I doubt she has done her taxes lately). My grandparents have been supporting my parents HEAVILY my whole life financially (now they cannot do anymore,for they have been "run dry" as they say), though unfortunately colleges/QB will likely not see this aspect. </p>
<p>So based on this, who's income should I put? I'm concerned about not getting financial aid in general because financial aid and scholarships are the ONLY way I can afford school as I am looking at top tier schools that have hefty cost of attendances/tuition. I feel that I have overcome a lot and have had to go to the extra mile to achieve good grades and be active in my community, and I would hate to have my situation hinder me from going to my top school.</p>