I agree with @thumper1 about securing ‘Bama or any sure thing as a safety school. You need money to go away to college and given your family situation, it’s no sure thing that you’ll get sufficient financial aid. to do so. Getting a lot of Merit money is no easy thing. It makes almost all school high reaches.
You have great numbers, and an impressive resume. Yes, you are in the running for the highly selective schools and awards. But when you are looking at single digit acceptances and the very few big merit awards out there, yes, it is possible and happens each year that student like you ends up with no viable choice because they didn’t work st finding and applying to any.
FAFSA uses only custodial parent’s finances, so it looks like you are PELL eligible which may help in terms of getting consideration for aid But the fact of the matter is that QB and most of your other schools use PROFILE
You should probably start on the CSS PROFILE application first because it is much more extensive and intensive. It’s easy peasy to do FAFSA once you have PROFILE done. You’ll also have to deal with the time consuming and difficult task of getting your mother’s information, and that’s not something to put off. Your schools are mostly PROFILE driven. Thats a hard core fact. You are going to have to deal with what they define as your expected contribution given your dad’s business and your mother.
Also, the QB deadlines are approaching. Absolutely, go through this channel, but be aware that the chances are very small in getting that match. It does help even if you do not get it. I think only about 1000 students get that match and full scholarship , and they generally have a zero EFC. But it does open a lot of doors and possibilities throughout the admissions process