<p>Softball,</p>
<p>I feel for you. There is something not right about a system that tells a self-supporting adult who wants to go to college that their education is less important–less worthy of help–than an adult of the same age who has poor parents. To either adult, the reality is that the money does not come from the parents. If you are a self-supporting adult, the system should allow you to be the responsible adult you are. Insulting, really.</p>
<p>However, the system is what it is. If you have the maturity and skills to be self-supporting since 18, you can figure out something. Can you change anything in your lifestyle to lower your current living expenses? Pick a school in a less expensive city? Share a house/apartment with more people? Walk/bike/bus and get rid of the car/ins./gas. Get rid of cable TV. Work on campus jobs so that you are within walking distance of your classes. Take out the maximum Stafford loan (which will be unsubsidized @6.8%) (First Year-$5,500, Second Year-$6,500, Third Year and Beyond-$7,500).</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>