[FONT="Tahoma"][SIZE="1"][COLOR="black"][COLOR="DarkSlateBlue"]Colleges can be so cruel sometimes, no matter how much you've suffered to just send in an application.
I can honestly say I don't know what you're going through because I've never had a dream college in one of the top 10 or 20 schools. I never really thought about college period until I was a Junior and Senior when it all finally hit me. Thinking about it, I don't want to live with my parents forever because I want to be free and live life the way I want to, but also because I don't want to be a moocher like some of my aunts and uncles.
My college/school life isn't hectic compared to yours; I go to a fantastic-not-so-expensive college right now majoring in Graphic Design. But, it's British, so it's not really like the Colleges/Uni's in America, but more like a period of time to get you prepared for Uni or something like that.
After another year and a half though, I really need to think of which college/uni to go to that has what I want, is where I want to go, isn't so expensive that I need to kill myself over it, etc.
You sound like you have your life planned out though, even if they're are things that come at you unexpectedly. Me, I guess I don't care where I go or how high the standards are, as long as I'm happy and do what I want to do most in life.
But, I'm not taking into consideration about how completely different our lives probably are. To be honest, I'm really disappointed in your mom for saying something like that to your own sister. It's in those times of need that you really need your parents to support you, no matter what. She might've not meant that so seriously, but you really don't know what else to do when your own mother calls you a dissapointment.
I'm just going on now, but it seems you're doing okay now. You may not've realized it, but if you think about it, you probably don't have to pay student loans and whatnot so much like your friends do when they go to the more expensive colleges, lol.
Anyway, I salute and look up to you because you've put in way more effort than I ever will. Life does give you ****, but you'll get through it if you don't give up.
Really, everything will get better. That's what I think anyway. :]
And @ [B]8bit[/B]: Well, at least you don't have to deal with college stuff for another year probably. Unless, you know, you wanted to or something.[/COLOR][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]