Maya`s father gave her some sort of ultimatum,he is a religious person,so it`s likely said ultimatum has something to do with her dating girls.Maya refuses to agree,that`s why she gets cut off from financial support of her family.That`s also why student loan itself is not enough to cover all of her expenses.
Maya is genuinly surprised to see Josy,she did not planned it,it`s possible she hoped for Josy to get admitted to college that`s why she held the bed for her but it was more of a hoping thing than planned thing.
Why Josy gets into college despite her chances being slim to non,why everything happens at once?Because plot needs to happen
First Maya talks with dad,than with Derek and than suddenly her attitude towards all the HoT`s stuff changes,she makes a decision to go with it.Sadly we didn`t get even a clue as of what type of conversations happened behinf the closed doors,any theory will be more or less educated speculation.