<p>@lemon123 what schools are in your guardian’s area that you can commute to? Perhaps your stats can qualify you for a scholarship (however with graduating HS abroad, that would be tricky) and your financial situation may qualify you based on FASFA for a Pell Grant? You are looking at tuition costs, books, transportation. Maybe community college first to cut tuition cost? Do you maybe need to take a gap year? Many looming questions…</p>
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That’s not really how financial aid works at most schools, only those that try to meet need and are most competitive for entry. At most schools, particularly public Us, your financial offer will include federal aid and, if your stats make you highly sought after, some merit aid. After that the difference between what you are offered and what you need is a gap. Public Us frequently gap students. They don’t really care if the schools is too expensive. </p>
<p>@erin’s dad is totally right - one may qualify for Pell Grant, student loans, and work-study, but meeting full need is not a guarantee no matter how insufficient income there is to pay.</p>