<p>Compmom,</p>
<p>When people say “full scholarship” what they almost always mean is “full financial aid”. There are very few schools that offer full grant aid. As a financial aid director and a Harvard alum, let me tell you that full financial aid (as opposed to scholarship) does indeed include both loans and work/federal work-study- about 3600 a year at Harvard. And college budgets generally do not include the “extras,” like a computer or tutoring or flying home for Thanksgiving or to visit your sister. Khadijah is likely to have a significant amount of debt when she graduates </p>
<p>As for living on the streets, unfortunately many people with children wind up there because staying in a shelter often brings the attention of child welfare authorities and often the loss of the children to foster care. It is clear that Khadijah’s mom was trying to keep her family together by ducking the authorities.</p>