<p>norcal, I don’t understand why this is your issue rather than your parents issue. Ask them directly - Do you want me to attend college? If so, are either or both of you paying for it? If so, how much money is there for tuition and living expenses? If not, will you help me to figure out how to pay for it myself, since I want to attend? I assume because your dad’s spouse paid for score reports and college fees, she at least is expecting you to apply to and presumably, attend, college in the near future.</p>
<p>Your folks employment status, assets, income, and associated obligations - all interesting for them to discuss and work out between them. Certainly, schools will want to know before providing an financial aid. But the only thing within your control - once they answer these questions - is finding a school you can afford. If the real answer to your question is ‘we don’t know yet’, then you can ask what they’d like you to do. Your options include waiting to apply until the finances have been worked out, and/or go to community college for now, and/or apply to schools that provide full-rides or close to it, and/or take your chances applying somewhere in the hopes that your folks will work it out before the first tuition payment is due. </p>
<p>It’s not fair and it’s certainly stressful to not know what is in store - but that is one of the impacts of divorce on the kids. Hopefully, it’s short-term stress and it will be sorted out promptly.</p>