How to pay for college with no financial aid?

I have a question about my financial aid situation and how to pay for college?

• I live in Louisiana, and my parents make $70,000 a year. On paper, that seems like a sufficient amount of money and is good enough to help me pay for college. However, that is very far from the truth. I had to sit out this semester because they couldn't afford my tuition. So, in regards to financial aid... I believe they simply look at numbers and figures in determining how much aid I get. Is there a form or something I can fill out or a letter I can send to them to explain my situation and somehow receive more aid?

• Answer:

  You can always have a Special Circumstances Appeal w the financial aid office at the school. This is where an adviser meets w a student on a case by case basis and makes determinations on whether to adjust aid based on the students and his/her family's financial situation. To do this, however, you need a an actual special circumstance. "Mom and Dad have credit card debt and just bought a new car and don't have enough money left over for tuition" is NOT a special circumstance. An example would be (like Spalmer said) large medical bills or loss of a parent(s) job since the beginning of the year. It's always worth talking to an adviser to see what can get adjusted but it's never a guarantee, and it's usually only adjusted by a few thousand dollars if at all. If all else fails, look into going to a cheaper school...