 TITLE: How Does Financial Aid Work for Divorced Parents? CONTENT: What if Financial Aid Isn't Enough?\n-----------------------------------\nThe cost of attending college can be astronomical, even with financial assistance. If the financial aid award you've received from your college simply won't allow you to make ends meet, you may want to consider next steps:\n*   **Meet with your school's financial aid office (again).** Plead your case. If you're a prime candidate, they may be willing to help you find additional sources of funding—especially if you indicate that another school has offered you more help.\n*   **Look elsewhere.** Colleges can vary widely in the amount of aid they offer, even when they're using the same financial aid documents to make these decisions.\n*   **Consider work opportunities.** Federally-sponsored work study isn't your only option. There's a wide range of money-making opportunities for college students.\n*   **Tap your family members.** If you have grandparents or other relatives who are willing and able to contribute, now may be the time to gratefully accept. Paying them back or paying it forward with younger family members is always an option after graduation.\n*   **Apply for scholarships.** Check with the financial aid office and your high school's college counselor for ideas and read up on where to find scholarships. The Department of Labor also offers a free scholarship search tool.\n*   **Look into private student loans.** In addition to the federal subsidized and unsubsidized student loans that may be part of your federal financial aid package, you can consider private student loans. These loans typically have higher interest rates and fewer protections, and you need to qualify for the loan, possibly with help from your parents. You can explore your private loan options using Experian CreditMatch™. END