If OP is NMF, UMN would have offered a lot of merit scholarships already. So that question does not really make sense. UMN is already among the cheapest public school for OOS students. In state public may not be much cheaper as OP received $8000 merit aid. However, they may provide more need based aids.
^not a NMF
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my family will fervently disapprove <<<
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Ok…you’re almost an adult, so learn this. People who aren’t paying really can only “disapprove from afar”. They have no power. After all, you can “disapprove” of what your parents do, and what does that mean? nothing. They do what they want to do. As an adult, so can you.
What kind of educator do,you want to be? If you want to work as a translator, you should be studying foreign languages, not linguistics.
Belated update:
I’ve received the Presidential Scholarship at Gustavus Adolphus College. Combined with the other scholarships they awarded me, that adds up to about 35k. I’ve been offered about 7k in loans and 7k is still not available, but I might be able to come up with the money for that.
I’ve been rejected from UC and Carleton (which I’m actually glad of). University of British Columbia let me in, though I’ve still not heard from them concerning financial data. I’m still waiting for the University of Montana to show financial data, and I’ve applied for numerous other scholarships. The University of Minnesota threw another $2000 scholarship at me, but 10k a year is definitely not enough for me to be able to afford it.
For all intents and purposes right now, my two real choices are University of Montana and Gustavus Adolphus College. I’ll see how much each costs, ultimately, within the next month.
I’d still rather join the military than do all of this, but given that I won’t be 18 for another year, I really haven’t got a say in that matter.
If you go to Montana, maybe you can take a couple of the ROTC classes?? It might at least give you an indication if you are a fit with being in the military. If you do like it, you could maybe then apply to continue in the program and be ready for officer training when you get out. I’m just throwing this out there. My niece participated in ROTC in high school and college and loved it. She didn’t actually join the military (wasn’t on any scholarship or commitment) but would have if she could have passed the physical.
Well, I suddenly have a new option.
I managed to convince my parents that the military would help me rather than hinder me. If I join the military, I plan to become an Army Linguist. I’m not striking the other options off my list just yet, but the military really does seem the logical choice given that they not only pay me as an employee, but they’ll pay my college tuition once I finish service.
Good for you!!! 
That could be a great option for many reasons, including training as a linguist if you can manage to get that post, but please understand what the military does and does not cover, tuition-wise. The military doesn’t really “pay college tuition” in the sense of “college for free, wherever you can get in.” I think it pays for in-state tuition, which would put you back where you are now; plus some colleges do offer reduced tuition or partial scholarships to veterans as part of the Yellow Ribbon Program, but most don’t. Some that do offer it would already be in your tuition exchange, http://www.wiche.edu/wue, but you could apply to schools in that category now (or next year, since you’ve missed the deadlines, I think.)
From a webpage on military benefits:
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As of Aug. 1, 2011, the Post-9/11 GI Bill will now pay all public school in-state tuition and fees. The full benefit amount an individual can receive is calculated from these numbers:
Tuition and fees payment (not to exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition and fees in each state)
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For the Yellow Ribbon Program, as I understand it, a few schools offer unlimited benefits to veterans, but most do not. It seems as if University of Minnesota would only give you $1000 extra after your service, which isn’t going to go very far. Carleton seems like it’s among the few that would truly be free. Check it out:
http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/yellow_ribbon/yrp_list_2014.asp
Thank you for your thoughtful response. That’s a really useful page, and it’s helpful to know that there still are plenty of state universities that will cover my fees.
If I do choose the DLI, the language training will get me an associate’s degree, and I can take other college courses wherever I’m stationed in order to get my bachelor’s degree. At the end of my six years of service, I can either remain in the military or leave to pursue a master’s degree and a life as a civilian. Work experience with the army would yield some serious credentials and it actually guarantees that I’ll start my career off employed.
Given that I’m just barely seventeen, there’s no real need for me to enlist right away. Given that I just received a scholarship for the University of Montana, my yearly fee there will be about $8000. I’ll wait and see which other scholarships I can receive, and finish my application for just one more.
Interestingly, the prospect of joining the army is a fair bit more exciting than is the idea of college.