<p>My parents have been divorced for about 7 years know. They are both in the child care business and money has been extremely tight. My father is a bit better off than my mother but I think that's only because he managed his money a lot better. I'm really worried about my mother and siblings. Her car was repossessed 3 weeks ago. She tried to pretend that she just gave it away because it was having "engine issues" but I knew what really happened. She's short on morgage payments as well and unfortunately we'll have to move out to a small apartment a few miles away. But the worst part is that she might lose her license for her job. Apparently things haven't been going well at her business either. I want things to be better for her and I but I'm just not sure how I can help. Between 5 AP Classes, Rowing, and Friends their never seems to be much time for anything. I was thinking about getting a job to benifit both of us (I could help out with money as well as save up for college). Which brings me to another point: College. I really want to go to a great private school out of state but it seems that neither of my parents are even fit enough to get me through. I'm in need of a lot of new clothing and other necessities too. What should I do?</p>
<p>You said you’re in 5 AP classes and rowing. Are you a strong candidate for schools that offer good FA?</p>
<p>If yes, apply away to as many top schools as possible. But be well prepared to have to go to your state school if worst comes worst.</p>
<p>If not, find a host of schools where you’re a strong candidate for good scholarships that you like and apply to them. Still be prepared to have to go to your state school.</p>
<p>Thanks for commenting, Grisam. I’m not exactly sure what schools have go Financial Aid so I wouldn’t know if I’m that strong of a canidate. I’d much prefer to go to an out of state private college, but my State University is still a good Public School (University of Florida). My GPA is a bit low though. I’m trying to reach 3.5 UW by the middle of senior year, so I’d be a bit more competitive for scholarships. </p>
<p>Any other comments would be appreciated.</p>
<p>I’m almost in the same situation, but not nearly. (If that makes sense.)</p>
<p>My parents are married, but together they make an income of about $20k per year.</p>
<p>Something that might make a difference for you is if your parents graduated from college.</p>
<p>For me, even though I’m under the poverty line or 150% poverty, I can’t get any low socio-economic scholarships, because my father not only graduated college, but he also went on to earn a Master’s and a JD. My mom didn’t go to college. And I’ll be the only one out of my grandmother’s ten grandchildren to go to college, but that doesn’t seem to matter. They only care about if at least one of your parents graduated from college.</p>
<p>What I say is, if you can find a weekend job that’s only 10-15 hours, that’ll bring you between $70 and $110 a week at minimum wage. You can use that money however you think you might need to, but an extra $300 a month can make a huge difference. I should know.</p>
<p>For college, you’ll really have to do a lot of research. I know that my local college would offer you $18k on the spot if you had at least a 1200 (because you have a 3.5) or $15k if you had at least an 1100. That doesn’t even include the Federal Pell Grant that you’d receive ($5500) or work study or loans or school grants. But it all depends on the school.</p>
<p>I’d apply to some financial safeties, but then I’d also apply to schools that you really want to go to. For kids who are dirt poor like ourselves, sometimes we can get a lot more money than the middle-class kids, just because we literally can’t afford to go to college. =/</p>