Properly fill out your FAFSA and FILE IT! Many high school students and their parents think that because they have some money they won't get anything from FAFSA. Fill it out anyway.
Step2
Search for local scholarships. Students are always entering big essay contests where you're competing against tens of thousands of other students. Spend your valuable time applying to local scholarships from your high school, suburb, city or any club you are involved in.
Step3
Get your parents to sign on your loans. This may be the only way you can get loans, but if they sign it should significantly lower your interest rates.
Step4
Consider the military. All branches of the military have a ROTC program. Competition for these programs are steep but if you win the military will pay for all of your tuition, books and fees PLUS pay you a monthly stipend. Remember that if you do get an ROTC scholarship you are locked into the military for at least 4 years of active duty service after college.