<p>Natyo, as a rule in my literally thousands of posts that I’ve written here, I don’t berate people for choices already made, things already done, because that is the “given” of the situation. In your case, I broke that rule because, to go through such an extreme thing like adoption purely for college resources, to me, was over the top, and was a true extreme in “gaming the system”. That you got NOTHING out of going through the expense and trouble that had to take is poetic justice in my mind Your CC would have given you the award anyways, you would have gotten state tuition there anyways, you would have gotten BF anyways, and if your natural parents are/were PELL eligible, you would have gotten that money on top of everything had you not undergone the adoption. You ended up not going to FSU after all of that. Your loans, if you took any would have been mostly subsidized. You are now stuck with parents who want no part of your college plans, particularly the paying for them part, and their financial situation is such that you aren’t going to get enough financial aid from even the most generous schools to make it happen. "Oh what a tangled web we weave… " is the quote that comes to mind.</p>
<p>Your choices are: 1) to see if the adoption can be reversed somehow. Could be a complication as you are now an adult. But check on that. Then under your natural parent’s situation, if they are low income/assets, you may qualify for PELL and other aid. 2) Go homeless, live in a shelter, really live that life, and then try to get independent status I do NOT recommend this. 3) Go move in with your sister and look at local state options where she lives, since you are now her daughter 4) find a job and work, save money and take a class here or there, and when you become age 24 and independent, finish it off with your eligibility as an independent, or just get your degree that way. As I mentioned before, that 's what a lot of people do.
4) Do check out your options with your CC transfer office There may be other programs that will give merit money to those who transfer from your CC where you can get your next 4 years. That your parents are no longer in state will likely be a problem because you will likely lose residency status. You have to look at residency rules for each college as they differ within the same state and even within departments. CCs and local type college usually are very lax. Here in my area, it’s not at all difficult to get NY residency rates for many programs at local state schools FOr the flagships and for degree programs, not so easy. </p>
<p>However, most schools do not meet need, so don’t expect some huge bonanza. And now that you are a transfer, your options are more limited. This is something that ALL students face without your complications. That is why most students do go to college part time, working at least part time, getting those credits, bit by bit. WHen you jump the gun or try to do something to buck the system, you have to be very smart, know the system very well and get lucky, or have someone advising you that is very smart and knows the system…and you still have to get lucky. What you did here was very dumb, not knowing the system and you got very unlucky. </p>