<p>I have a very tough situation that might impede my chances of winning the award and I'm worried that I'm just wasting my time applying to it.
My mother and I moved to this country 10 years ago and have always lived on our own. She's never earned over $15000 a year. But last year she got married and my step father earns A LOT of money because he's a retired teacher.
I just filed the fafsa and our EFC is 43,000. But although he has a lot of money, my mom only earned 10,000 last year because she is disabled & couldn't work.
My step father is in NO WAY contributing to my college education. Because of his taxes I don't think ill qualify for the Pell Grant, and so I'm worried my BGMS application won't even be looked at, even though I DO need the money.</p>
<p>When your stepfather married your mother he joined your family.</p>
<p>He apparently gave you his tax information so you could file FAFSA so he is at least accommodating to that point.</p>
<p>You need to sit down with your mother & step father and identify how much they can pay for college & what their expectations are of you. ( work summers? Stafford loans?)</p>
<p>He’s not paying for anything. My mom and I are the only ones paying. If we had just filed what she earned I would def. qualify for the pell grant. Do I qualify for it with my EFC? & should I even bother applying for the GMS?</p>
<p>There are other ways to get money for school. If you apply to schools where your stats are toward the top of the applicant pool, you can get great merit scholarships. Many schools guarantee certain merit awards if you meet GPA and SAT requirements. And, aren’t you fortunate that your mom has been able to meet and marry someone who loves her so she won’t have to spend her life alone? There is more to life than money…and it’s way too short to take some things for granted. You may not qualify for government funding, but there are other ways you can afford college. Maybe find other affordable schools to attend. There’s no guarantee you would have won the Gates award anyway, and plenty of kids with single moms end up with no choice but to stay home and attend community college for a few years. In a way, your step dad IS contributing to your college: by being able to pay for rent/mortgage, food, and those other necessities for your mom, some of her money is then freed up to spend on you, right?</p>