Stress, stress, stress

I guess we've all experienced it.
The stress of college. Or, more specifically, the stress of getting into college.
They can't just make it easy.You have to fill out an application. You have to send money with that application. You have to fill out a FAFSA to see if you qualify for any grants, and you have to be patient and understanding when no, you don't qualify. You have to take a stupid ACT test. In my case, you have to take a GED test as well. Both of which cost money. You have to send proof of these tests to your school of choice, and be understanding when your copies are not considered proof and you will have to call the test people and have them send their own copies (which, yet again, will cost money). You have to send in an application for housing, and send money with that as well. After all of this is done, you have to apply for loans (which cost a lot of money) and more loans if the original loans aren't enough.
The process can take weeks, even months to complete.
Even when all the applying and sending and proving is finished, you need to buy books (money) and food (money) and dorm stuff (money).
Is there anything cheap about school? I'm ready to give up. Seriously.
Help.