NJ is a high cost of living state so 50K in NJ doesn’t get you as much as it does in Arkansas.
Being poor but smart should not be a barrier to getting into a good school.
I also agree with self-studying APs having nothing to do with your application…that might be good to get credit in college, but will not do much for your app. Schools want you to take classes in HS and do well in them…just like they want you to do in college.
Spend time studying for the P/SAT. GPA/SAT is what gets you scholarships, not AP.
Go to some of the colleges of interest and find the Net Price Calculator and have your parents help you enter information to see what the college would cost for you.
Also NJ has the NJ Stars program which is a scholarship program exclusively for New Jersey residents that covers the cost of tuition at New Jersey’s 19 community colleges. Students who rank in the top 15 percent of their high school class at the end of either junior or senior year may be eligible.
Also check out Rowan as well as they give great scholarships too.
Talk to your GC abotu scholarships as well.