One problem with financial aid is that you may be unable to get the appropriate funding necessary for all your educational expenses, including room and board, tuition, fees and the cost of books. Remedy this by applying for additional scholarships in fields that you are skilled in, whether academic or athletic. Check with your place of employment and counselor to determine if you are eligible for any scholarships.
Many schools do not administer the financial aid packages until the semester has begun, which poses a problem when you need to stock up on your supplies, purchase necessary equipment for classes and purchase your textbooks. Textbook costs rise into the hundreds of dollars, which many students do not have available immediately. If you're faced with this dilemma, consider going half and half on the cost of a book with a friend in the same class to save you both money. Purchase any other necessary items when your package is disbursed.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid requires you to submit your parents' tax information, which includes their adjusted gross income. Even if your parents do not pay for any of your college expenses, the government considers you a dependent and bases your aid package on your parents' income. This poses a problem if you are estranged from your parents and do not have access to their financial information. You can change your status from dependent to independent, but the process is long and you must file a "Dependency Review Form" along with documentation that explains your situation. It is not common, though, and most students maintain their dependent status until they are married, have dependents themselves or are 24 years old.
The federal government issues grants, including Pell grants to low and middle income students, SEOG grants for exceptional financial aid, ACG grants for individuals who completed a very difficult school program, TEACH grants for students who want to pursue a career in teaching and LEAP grants of combined federal-state funding for students with a substantial amount of need to attend school. The Federal Student Aid Office offers the Direct Loan Program, which loans money from the U.S. Treasury. Federal Perkins Loans are distributed directly from the school to students with a need for aid. Work-study provides students with part-time jobs while they are enrolled in school.