Dear Molly, 

It seems to me that some very important elements are already in place as regards your vocation. You feel drawn to religious life, it is not a passing fad for it has lasted some years, you have been praying, you have been inquiring, your parents are extremely generous for even though you are an only child and it is hard on them, they want to support you. I would imagine you have been trying to develop your relationship with God.

There is another question you need to ask yourself and find an answer to: of the different ways of giving yourself to God (religious orders, consecrated life in a Movement...), is there one that has caught your attention or attracted you especially? Is there any person you have seen and thought, maybe God wants me to be like that? If there is, I would think you now need to visit them, and start talking to them about their particular life and charism, their requirements for entrance, etc. This will give you much more of an answer as to what to do now than your own speculation.

One note of caution though. You seem to be looking for mathematical evidence, an absolute sign of what is best to do. You wont get one. The most you will get is that you use your head, your faith and your heart, and when you put it all together it isn't as crazy as it seems, but it still takes faith.

God bless,