First of all, eligibility for aid is based principally on finances, so the less amount of finances that can be attributed to the applicant, the better. This requires thorough and early planning on your part. The FAFSA requires every bit of financial information about you (and maybe some about your parents), so putting any funds in a FAFSA-exempt investment is a good idea. For example, early investments in an IRA or 401K, which the government will not calculate toward your available income, is a smart way to save money toward college that will not affect your aid eligibility.
Disperse saved up money for college to other trusted people for temporary safekeeping. Put funds in your parent's name, or a relative's or a friend's, until after your financial aid package has been calculated. The federal government calculates 20 percent of an applicant's assets to education payments, while it only assesses 5.6 percent of a parent's assets. Similarly, find employment with tax-exempt positions such as work-study programs or Americorps where earnings will not affect your aid eligibility.
Aid is given out on a first come, first serve basis, so the earlier you apply for aid through the FAFSA, the better your chances of maximizing what you get. Fill out the application early, accurately (little mistakes can result in big delays which will negatively affect your aid package) and thoroughly; if the answer to a question is zero, write in zero instead of leaving it blank. The FAFSA is a straightforward application if you have all the necessary information (tax forms, etc.), so it is quite unnecessary to hire a service to fill it out for you. Read questions thoroughly, answer truthfully and ask for help from the FAFSA website if you run into any problems.