Yes, this is exactly what I am looking for advice on.
Sending you a hug. And I don’t want to make you paranoid, but do you know who the trustee is who will be managing your funds in the years before you turn 25??? Worth a call to the lawyer to verify who that is. It may be your grandma’s lawyer. It may be a family member. Make sure you verify….
Is that money currently in trust for you?
If so, I am afraid that I have unfortunate news in that it will be assessed fairly heavily as an available asset if you are applying for need-based financial aid and sadly may result in your receiving significantly less financial aid than you would otherwise receive. The colleges will expect you to use 20 percent per year of the trusts assets for college and will decrease any need-based financial aid by that same amount. Paging @kelsmom in case she is aware of any nuances that may be helpful.
If the estate is currently being adminstered and the trust is not yet established, that may change things. Also, assets that your parents have (including a trust) will be assessed at a much lower rate – about 5.6% of the asset value each year. There is a big difference in how financial aid formulas treat parent versus student assets.
I definitely was NOT aware of all the context.
I do think the step by step framework still applies generally, but as compmom explained, there may need to be some additional steps. Which is fine! Building a successful US professional career in general isn’t a race, and the process of becoming a college professor even less so than most.
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I asked an AI agent about this and it suggested that you enter the following prompt to an AI agent you like (copilot, chatgpt, etc).
Here’s the exact phrasing that produces the most accurate, teacher‑like output:
“Recommend audition repertoire for a [voice type] high‑school singer applying to SUNY/Ithaca‑level vocal performance programs. Include two classical pieces and one musical theatre legit piece that are age‑appropriate, healthy for a young voice, and typical for freshman‑level auditions.”
This phrasing forces the AI to:
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match repertoire to voice type
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stay within freshman‑level difficulty
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avoid inappropriate repertoire
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follow SUNY/Ithaca norms
If you want, I can generate a ready‑to‑copy prompt for her.
The only risk
Some AI models occasionally recommend:
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arias that are too advanced (e.g., Mozart opera arias)
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French mélodies that are too heavy (e.g., Duparc)
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musical theatre pieces that are belty instead of legit
This is why giving the AI a voice type and difficulty level is essential.
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I sent you a DM. Look for the green envelope in the upper right.
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The amount of any inheritance will play into financial aid. Fortunately, it sounds like you will be able to access it to pay for school - that’s a good thing.
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Yes I do. It is my great-uncle. I will get his number once I graduate high school.
the trust is not yet established and most likely will not be for another year or two.
Could you do this, as I can’t access it with my school device? My voice type is mezzo soprano. You can use the same requirements as above.
I already consulted AI for repertoire and sent it to you 
(in a private message a couple of weeks ago)
Please get reliable information about the trust, what kind of access you will have to it for college funds, and what effect that might have on financial aid. There are different types of trust obviously. And maybe don’t wait until graduation to talk to the trustee. I would talk to the trusted and also investigate the effects of any accessible funds, with your specific schools. Overall this is good news- I hope.
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OP- this is good advice.
I know people are reluctant sometimes to ask questions about an inheritance or a trust– “I don’t want to seem greedy”, but given that you aren’t getting support from your parents, it is important for you to move forward with the most accurate information possible about money which will come to you down the road.
It is legitimate to ask your uncle if there is a co-trustee (someone else who needs to sign off on disbursements). It is legitimate to ask how those funds are invested and what the annual fees are. It is legitimate to ask who is preparing the K-1’s (a special tax form which trusts file for the IRS). And it is perfectly within your rights to ask to see the documents which set up the trust on your behalf by your grandmother- there could be restrictions you should know about, there could be some ambiguity around the timing (for example, you can access the funds when you turn 25 unless the money is needed sooner and is paid directly to a medical provider or an accredited institution of higher learning.
This is a wonderful thing to have in your back pocket– and there is no shame in asking your uncle to walk you through it.
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I sent you another DM. (Sorry, it’s separate from the first one).
I sent you one too, also separate from the previous ones!
I believe the poster said this trust is not yet set up…
the trust is not yet established and most likely will not be for another year or two.
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