Just to add to what Work2Live said–at Vanderbilt students who receive a grant are also assisted by the school in finding a job on campus (working at the student center desk, the hospital gift shop, the cafeteria, the library, etc.) that pays a bit above minimum wage. Think the jobs are usually 10-15 hours a week. The money earned is paid to the student, it isn’t automatically funneled back to the financial aid office. This might be enough to make your mother feel that you are doing what you can to “help pay for the costs of college.” Best of luck to you!