Do you have permanent resident status in the U.S. Or are you on some kind of visa, and if so…what kind?
^ Sounds like he’s a PR. The OP said he/she could apply for citizenship at 18. Unless you go through the military, marry a citizen, or have some special connections, you need to be a PR to apply for citizenship.
@Lilliana330 @StressingMom Thank you so much for the info! I’m not planning to attend a community college right now. But that’s great backup plan!
@thumper1 I do. I’m a permanent resident like @Lilliana330 said… the naturalization test should be piece of cake haha…aced APUSH with 99 overall…although what is most significant benefit of naturalizing for college?
Will it be too late? I’m here more than 5 years… but I must be 18… and I turn 18 in January 28th of 2016… but thats after early decision…
@Lilliana330 I live pretty close to NC State. but Chapel Hill is my first option. do you by any chance know the FULL RIDE criteria? and thanks so much SIR or MADAME!
@Lilliana330 I will be taking 7 APs in my Senior…messed up my junior year… My friend is going to be the valedictorian…and I will have pretty good chance of becoming salutatorian…my biggest problem is community involvement…frankly I know I won’t have time…I barely have time to just sit down and enjoy my guitar
There’s an entire page about Chapel Hill scholarships here. Google is your friend. You can easily Google your questions and come here for clarification.
@undeuxtroiscat haha yes and thanks… My graduated salutatorian got the morehead caine… but he was captain of lacrosse for 3 years…and with amazing transcript and all that…I’m far from him…also I don’t have anyone experienced enough to talk to. figure yall amazing people here could share some experiences
“the naturalization test should be piece of cake haha…aced APUSH with 99 overall…although what is most significant benefit of naturalizing for college?”
I’m sure it’ll be 
For college…none, really. All schools except for a handful, I think, will treat a permanent resident as they will a citizen.
On a personal level, reasons for becoming a citizen are A) to solidify your belonging to the country you’ve lived in and grown to love and B) to reap the full benefits from contributing to the American society.
“Will it be too late? I’m here more than 5 years… but I must be 18… and I turn 18 in January 28th of 2016… but thats after early decision”
As long as your residency hasn’t expired, you’ll be fine.
“I live pretty close to NC State. but Chapel Hill is my first option. do you by any chance know the FULL RIDE criteria?”
Don’t know the criteria, but Morehead (their only merit-based full ride, I think) is quite competitive, However, you have a high chance of getting a need-based full ride. If not a full ride, I think you’ll at least get a package where you can make things work with a stafford loan (although not used to meet need by UNC, you can still take them out. these are reasonable loans. likely won’t need them though) and summer work earnings.
“my biggest problem is community involvement…frankly I know I won’t have time”
That’s okay. Colleges understand when low-income kids can’t be involved in EC’s due to family financial obligations. One of the many reasons why the Questbridge app will be very helpful to you.
"I barely have time to just sit down and enjoy my guitar "
That counts as an EC
By the way, I’ll be taking the test in ~3 yrs so let me know how it goes 
@Lilliana330 Sure! Thanks
Just wanted to mention that the citizenship test is a breeze, the hardest part is all the paperwork (and paying for it, ugh!). They asked a few questions about what age you had to be to vote and drink alcohol, who our current president was etc. Ridiculously simple. This was about 10 years ago, but I can’t imagine it’s changed much. (Except for the answer to “current president” of course ).
It sounds like you are trying to look at net income, but gross income is what matters for financial aid.
^ Good point
OP, did you mean 30k income before paying bills or after paying bills?
Consider all the NC state schools. They are different in terms of FA. It is not uniform. For example, Chapel Hill is a Profile school where NC State is not. Also look closely at the COA and how it is determined. For example, CH uses the full meal plan in the COA but does not require the student to have a meal plan. So you can trim the cost.
@BobWallace its gross income… before paying all the bills and taxes, it’s less than 30 k
Honesty… college isn’t too much of concern… I’m certain that I will make good marks, or even at least give my 110%…and of course best plan is college free of financial worries and save up for MED…
I know its a long shot, but the more i save here, the less I have to worry about
^ Ok, the concern was that if your gross income was much higher, you wouldn’t get much aid. You’re still eligible for a need-based full ride/almost full-ride at many colleges.
^I have a question for senior year actually…
i’m in a sorta of dilemma right now…
senior year: I have choices between
ap bio or ap cal…or even ap physics… just so happen all 3 are year long
I have to give up one… I personally don’t want to give up physics (since its my mentor’s class)
but I want to pursue the pre med path…WELP!
^ Med schools will make you take the actual college classes anyways, so you might only get elective credit.
I’d drop AP bio. Introductory AP Bio in college is mostly a lot of memorizing. Calc & physics, which you’ll have to take as pre-med as well, are harder, so the preparation will be more helpful/necessary.
^thanks… indeed APs are mere preparation… Noted thanks
^Thanks
Although my very concern is such big scholarship bases like fastweb…has anyone successfully obtained scholarships from em?