Negotiate for additional tuition reduction with your financial aid office. Compare the financial aid packages of each institution on the initial basis that you are willing to consider attending all of them. Observe the rate at which each university offers free money in the form of grants and scholarships. Contact your top-choice school and notify them of any packages that exceed their own; encourage aid counselors to enhance the monetary reward offers in exchange for your attendance. Conduct research in advance with your parents; identify any accomplishments or awards that make a highly competitive applicant to increase your negotiating power. Obtain a copy of the US News & World Report college ranking and assess your SAT scores, course load rigor, athleticism, musical accomplishments, and origin with the university's average student profile. Be prepared to walk away with no additional funding if the financial aid director is unwilling to negotiate.
Contact corporations to see if they are willing to resource higher education in return for human capital, but only if your are certain about majoring in a specific field. Ask companies if they would agree to fund your college experience in return for a percentage of your future income or an unpaid summer internship. Note that students majoring in highly-paid professions such as medicine or law are ideal applicants of human capital contracts. Prepare to provide letters of recommendation, transcripts, and resumes in addition to your proposal.
Enlist the help of your friends and family to assist you in funding your education. Assess the situation to ensure that there are a few available options. Promise that their money--whether in the form of a gift or loan--will be used responsibly. Provide your loved ones with detailed updates and remember to thank them. Also research scholarships offered by local and state organizations. Ask everyone you know if they know any groups that give scholarships and how to apply.
Join one of the many military branches to assist you in paying for college. Many schools have Reserve Officers Training Programs (ROTC), which offer full merit-based scholarships and grants. Officer programs such as the Navy's Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate Program (NUPOC) or the Air Force's Technical Degree Sponsorship Program (TDSP) provide you with enlisted pay stipends while you attend school. In exchange, you serve in the armed forces for four to six years.