<prompt> Human: My boyfriends children are senior and sophomores in HS respectively. Both are good students with A averages overall, occasional Bs. We simply cannot afford college for them. However they are both dead set on it mostly I think for the college experience...ie they see all their friends going and dont understand why we cant afford to send them. We make around 100,000 combined. Their mother cannot contribute any financial support. We did an estimated EFC for FAFSA and all they will receive based on their dads income is max fed loans per yr and possibly small work study. Is it illogical to think they may be offered some type of scholarships for academics through either state or private schools? Is that common? I guess i simply dont understand how most families can afford to help. Even if we said to the kids that they need to pay their own way the way I see it they will not be able to secure enough loans without a cosigner. Their dad cannot cosign as he has student loans of his own yet to pay off and he would not be able to afford parent plus loans. Any advice on the realities of affording college for 2 teens without cosigners much appreciated  <response>: You usually arent handed scholarships. You have to look for and apply to them - lots of them. Heres a link from the Govt site: Apply to anything that could be remotely connected to you. There are other sites that will have other options. Dont pay anyone to find these for you. 