Too Broke to be Broke

I don't understand the way that this crap works. I should start by saying that I'm not what you would call a "traditional student". Although I'm not sure that I agree with the Leave It to Beaver type definition of "traditional student". I didn't go to my dream school right after high school. I didn't even have a dream school. No one really gave a crap about my school performance, whether or not I actually attended, or if I planned on going to college. I've always been a diligent student and education has always been important to me.

I graduated from high school and eventually enrolled in classes at a community college. I had to get a job and support myself through school. At some point I started working more and taking less classes. Until I got a job paying a reasonable salary and stopped going to school all together. At some point I started taking classes again. I switched jobs in order to complete my education. After 5 years of... well let's face it - bullshitting - I FINALLY completed my 2 year degree. I figured I'm on a roll, so I may as well transfer to a four year school and do what I've always wanted to do. Long story short, I was accepted into NYU!

I was sooooooooooo excited... until I started trying to get tuition money together. I got a couple of grants and a scholarship and even took out a student loan. I'm still several thousand dollars away. So I started applying for scholarships and looking for more grants. I completed the FAFSA form, but they go by what I made last year... which is no where near what I make now. I'm so freaking broke, but to the federal government, I'm not broke enough to get enough money to pay for my education. I went to NYU a couple of times and every time I went to one office, they sent me to another one. No one has any answers that are helpful. I finally have a dream school and it's very likely that I won't be able to attend.

I don't really blame anyone for it and I'm not saying that anyone owes me tuition money. But DAMN... It really sucks that money can keep me away from something so important to me.