My freshman year of college I struggled greatly with the cost of college. I had moved out of my mother’s house and was living with my grandmother. I worked a part time job of 15 hours while taking 19 hours of school. Because I did not have my own place I was still considered under my mother’s income. My mother does not make very much money. She is a small business owner who works her hardest to do what she can. My stepdad however makes a sufficient amount of money, but because I am not his daughter, so he does not help me at all with college. Because they file a joint tax my FAFSA considers his income as part of my estimated family contribution. When in fact eighty percent of the income should not be applicable in my financial need.
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