<p>Please talk to your guidance counselor. Where are the graduates from your high school going for college? Are there any satellite branches of any colleges within commutable distance. My MIL lived in a town that is considered economically deprived, as is that entire region. The nearest community college is a good 40 minutes away without any public buses in the area, but…1) the CC does run a shuttle a few times a day leaving from a central point in town 2) a directional state university an hour away runs a shuttle in the morning and evening at least, very limited but does get anyone who needs to get there to the school and back 3)There are courses held at the library, high school in the evenings and other locations by the the community college so that even staying in town, one can get a start on some college courses. 4) the state and college in the state have special programs, admissions and aid for those who live in this region because it is so underrepresented in higher education. These programs extend right on up to medical and other professional school and are not advertised You have to find this info by asking the right people at the high school, college or whatever. 5) Your high school might have referral programs to some college, especially if you have high stats in your test scores and gpa. </p>
<p>So you should talk to your counselor at the high school. Find out what last year’s graduating class is doing. </p>
<p>You should run some numbers through the EFC estimator to see where you stand in that regard. Is there housing available through referral lists if not through the school itself at any CCs in your state? I know that even in NY there are some CCs with very low tuition, and that have roomshares nearby where it is possibly to get by on very little. Does your state give finanical aid? </p>
<p>Also your counselor should let your state schools and any college possibilities know that you don’t have a commutable option available so that it might put you first on the fin aid list for consideration. In NY, room and fees tend to be covered if there is need, but I can see exceptions possibly made for those students who live too far to commute to a school (though not so possible in that state as there are so many schools peppered throughout). I know that in the cases of Indian reservations that are indeed located far from any higher education institution and public transportation that commuting is not reasonably doable, that there are special schools and provisions made for these cases.</p>