<p>Sorry to hear about the loss of your dad.</p>
<p>*My mother’s income is low enough to qualify for aid, although I don’t know exactly what it is. </p>
<p>*</p>
<p>You need to find out how much your mom earns from income and from investment income. </p>
<p>Does your mom also receive social security benefits since your dad has died? I’m not sure how that all counts for FAFSA.</p>
<p>Are her assets in property, stocks, ???</p>
<p>As others have said, the CSS Profile schools aren’t going to care which way your mom files her taxes. They are going to expect some assets to be used for education.</p>
<p>What are your stats? You may need to also apply to some schools that will give you large scholarships for your stats. </p>
<p>Edited to add…</p>
<p>I’m a junior in an INCREDIBLY competitive NYC high school (every college has heard of us).* I’m aiming for a top-tier liberal arts school (Vassar, Williams, Amherst, Wesleyan, Oberlin, etc); I’m interested in Yale or Brown as well, but I know they’re reaches. So, advice?** Chancing for the colleges I’ve mentioned? Advice on how to stop my impending nervous breakdown?</p>
<p>My specific questions are at the bottom. </p>
<p>SATs (only took a practice without studying): 2180
- CR: 770
- Math: 650 [1420 M+CR]
- Writing: 760</p>
<p>GPA: 95.4 (average in my school is a 93) </p>
<p>Sophomore Grades:
- English: A
- Latin: A+
- Chemistry: A
- History: A
- Math: B+
- Theater Production: A
(keep in mind that all of these are at least equivalent to honors-level classes)</p>
<p>*</p>
<p>OK…those schools on your list aren’t going to care how your mom files her taxes…they are going to consider EVERYTHING.</p>
<p>If your mom can’t sell any of those assets to help pay for your education, then you need to prepare yourself for the fact that those schools may not be affordable because they’ll expect your mom to pay too much.</p>
<p>you need to identify some schools that will give you lots of merit scholarship money.</p>
<p>Be sure to take the PSAT this year…and study for it.</p>