<p>Yes, you have 9 choices, but do you have any choice that you and your family can afford? Borrowing $20,000 per year is <em>not</em> affordable.</p>
<p>One way that some students get financial help to go to school is joining the military when they are SURE what the terms of their service are and exactly what they are giving up and getting. I have friends who got their medical degrees and other education in this manner, but you have to be SURE you are clear on the terms. </p>
<p>You also have to be sure you won’t be even more discriminated against wherever you end up. There is unfortunately a lot of prejudice and intolerance everywhere, sadly even in HI, tho it is very accepting in some ways it does have some discrimination as well. One issue that comes up is that people cannot easily get out of the military–there is no way of leaving until you have completed your term of service and even after that, sometimes you’re not allowed to leave, especially as now when we are involved in multiple conflicts around the globe.</p>
<p>Choices without the resources to go are not really options. You could go somewhere and get a job and wait until you’re 24, when you can be declared independent and perhaps qualify for aid on your own finances. Those are the options I am aware of if CC doesn’t work for you. Even with CC, you would have to transfer to another school if you want a 4 year degree. Thera are actually quite a few well-paying professions you can get from a CC, like a respiratory therapist, registered nurse, paralegal, and many others. That would help you save up more money so you can have further options.</p>
<p>Why is St Louis out of the question? Have you been there? </p>
<p>If you really want to get away from your state, then maybe that should be the priority, not going to college next year.</p>
<p>Move west, get a job, establish residency, then re apply to college.</p>
<p>No one has pointed this out, but an ACT of 18 is very low; have you tried to figure out where your weakness is? You might have gotten into college but you need to think about how you are going to stay there. </p>
<p>A community college will have remedial and developmental classes to help you build your skills. You need a four year school and a loan like you need a hole in the head. </p>
<p>Go to summer school at the community college and start working on your developmental math and english courses so you will be able to take credit classes in Fall.</p>
<p>Sorry to be blunt but those schools that admitted you want your money.</p>
<p>Your grades are also not high enough to draw any merit money. If you do well in community college and figure out how to be a stronger student, you MAY be able to get more funding if you want to transfer for an additional two years of school at a 4-year university.</p>