Kalman Chany, author of Paying for College Without Going Broke (Princeton Review), shares his pointers for getting more aid.

1. Assume you're eligible. Don't rule yourself out because of income or academics,

2. Don't wait to be accepted to a college to apply for aid, Coffers may be empty by spring.

3. Get application forms soon. You should file as soon after January 1 as possible.

4. Figure out your expected family contribution. Worksheets on Web sites and in guidebooks can help you estimate how much colleges will expect you to pay. Your aid will be based on this figure.

5. Do your income tax forms early. Try to get your family to complete income tax forms early so you can submit accurate financial information to aid processors.