how to get enough money/aid?

Paying for College
1

So basically I’m a junior and i dont know where to look for more aid
my situation— my mom is dead and i live with just my dad. He makes 50,000 a year and its just us two and my brother who is in college but got a full ride bc national merit. I cant even get the scholarship he got anymore. I have 35 act and im captain of science olympiad and ill be wordsmith writing olympics captain next year. Ive made all state band for all 3 years of high school and i made all national band this year and i was brass captain/section leader. Im about to start working (unpaid) in a lab at a local college
BUT like i cant even afford room and board for any school. And like i wont get enough money at a state school to be able to afford it.
My best option is university of central arkansas bc they give automatic full rides if you are admitted to the honors college but i really dont want to stay in the south. NPCs say ill only have to pay 3000-6000 at like ivies and other really top tier schools which is the most I can afford. But like what if i dont get in?
So my question is are there any midtier schools that could give me more money/aid? and is there anything I should be doing now to make me more likely to get money or get admitted?

I’m really worried about it

2

If you are getting a job, consider getting a paid job. That is more valuable at this point. Once you are in college you can get a (paid) lab job.

You can borrow $5,500 in student loans. With your dad’s income and two in college, your FAFSA EFC might be low enough for a Pell Grant or state grant.

Try to find some schools that give you full tuition for your stats.

Next year apply in early fall to some affordable schools with likely merit for your stats, and a few reachy meet full need schools.

Look at University of Pittsburgh, Ohio State, WVU, U Alabama, UAH, UT Dallas, UNM, U Arizona for example, in addition to your instate publics.

3

Consider applying through Questbridge. 100% of all college costs are covered.
https://www.questbridge.org/

4

I am so sorry about the loss of your mother.

Ok…what was your psat score? Are you a likely NMSF/NMF as well? If so, there are other schools that will give a NMF a free or near free ride. Does your brother go to OU?

With an ACT 35, there are some free rides available. What is your GPA?

What is your major and career goal?

Why an unpaid job at a lab??? Why? How many hours per week???

Get yourself a REAL job, one where you can be part time during school year, and full time during summers…work/save.

It doesn’t sound like you have the resume for an Ivy acceptance, so we’ll suggest other schools that give lots of aid.

Don’t worry…you’ll have options.

5

We visited UCA because of the good scholarships, and liked it. If they had her major, and it was closer to home, D’19 would have been sold. You may not want to stay in the South, but that is where a lot of the good merit is. Even without Honors at UCA, the automatic merit should put it in a range where a loan and/or possible Pell grant would pay for it. If you find a school out of the South then you will have extra travel cost etc. You can move out of the South after college…