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<p>Would it be overkill for some of those sources to write a little letter verifying a thing or two? I am just curious. </p>
<p>I agree with leaving the “miracles” out Llama but I think your world view is beautiful. You are all trying to be as honest as you are trying to be organized about the college app process and that is lovely.</p>
<p>Good luck Llama :)</p>
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<p>This is good, your mom is already claiming the EITC.</p>
<p>To be honest I think it is less of a problem than it might appear. Every year or so you hear that an Ivy has accepted a homeless students. In New york NYU, Columbia and Cornell have EOP/HEOP programs that accept low income students. Income limit for a family of 3 is ~27K. Try living on that amount in NYC. I have an advisee that has to use here campus work study earnings to support a younger sister that lives with her unemployed mentally ill mother. This students does not even have sufficient funds to go home for the holidays. Unfortunately, your situation is not unique. Approach your response as though it is a supplemental essay.
Good Luck!!!</p>
<p>Colleges may question the rent because it’s higher than one would expect on that income and it seems nearly impossible to cover all the necessary expenses. They MAY wonder if perhaps she is sharing the house with someone - a friend or a significant other. This COULD explain how it’s possible to live on that income - and this situation isn’t that uncommon. Even IF she were living with someone, that would not make you ineligible for FA but numbers may need to be adjusted - like your mom would only list a portion of the rent/utilities or else she may need to declare if someone else contributes to her unearned income (not sure how $ gifts are addressed). In any case, I don’t think colleges expect an unmarried significant other to pay for your college - nor do they expect your grandparents to do so. Even though your grandparents are helping you out NOW, they are under no legal obligation to do so.</p>
<p>Okay I’ll explain everything really clearly, if a college asks. If they don’t ask, I’ll just wait.</p>
<p>Thanks again everyone.</p>
<p>Maybe they’ll see the EITC as the kind of supplement to her income that would allow her to pay bills and buy food. 5K is a lot of money…</p>
<p>In another thread, you mentioned living with your uncle. I think you need to stick to one story without bringing in other people.</p>
<p>In my experience, FA people look at a set of documents and then look at numbers. These correlate to various formulas and what not. For ex., the 0 EFC and the income and so on. </p>
<p>What your case asks someone to do is make an interpretation and a judgement and a guess – which is not what you want to happen.</p>
<p>Story –</p>
<p>I live with my grandparents and am finishing high school in CA. I have a part time job for expenses. At this time, my mother does not provide me any of my money or supplies. My mother lives in Utah. My father passed away before I was born. I am attaching his death certificate and my mother’s income taxes for the past two years. I have lived with my grandparents since September 2009 when I started my senior year at Name of High School in Name of City, California. </p>
<p>Anything you write should be verified or should be able to be verified. I would also make an appt with your high school principal and give him a heads up, just in case you need a quick verification. </p>
<p>And you need to STOP adding commentary etc. It makes your story, which is not hard to believe, suddenly seem suspect. Plenty of kids live with grandparents – it is not THAT weird to accept. Your focus on your mother’s rent is not helping the subjective part of your FA evaluation (if there is one). </p>
<p>Good luck!!! I hope I wasn’t too harsh!! We are on your side.</p>