Starting to look at colleges I might like

Okay, so here is what I see. Likely you need a school that meets need. Your mom will need to fill out some paperwork just to make those schools happy, but they won’t expect her to contribute.

You probably should have a couple of reach schools that meet need and are need blind. Maybe Hamilton or Middlebury?

Then there are schools that meet need, but are not need blind (needing aid can reduce your admission chances). Maybe Bates, Carleton, and Dickinson (meets 99% of need). If you are female. Mount Holyoke.

St. Lawrence is one that you might like, although they do not meet need. Same with St Olaf. But sometimes they come through for a low income student that they want.

If you can borrow a copy of the Fiske Guide to Colleges from your GC or the library, you can read up on these schools.

Each college has a net price calculator on their website. You should work with your dad to run some. Some of the schools I’ve listed may end up cheaper than your in-state publics with financial aid, so don’t be deterred by the sticker price.

Also, if you can’t afford to visit, you still could apply. Some schools will help pay for a visit once you get in. You have pretty good stats, so you definitely have options.

Keep up your grades and try to do well in any extra curriculars you have. You may want to study for your SAT and make another attempt - high test scores plus a high GPA opens doors.