Emm,
Not sure if you have filled out a Free Application For Student Aid (FAFSA). This is the first step. Go to this site to begin the process, starting this year there are no paper FAFSA's that are mailed in, they must all be done electronic.
Here is the link.
The big issue for you will be dependency status. If you are considered dependent, you will need your parents tax information from the previous year and their income will be considered in your financial aid. If you are considered independent, you will only need your own tax information to fill out the FAFSA.
To be i
ndependent you must meet on or more of the following:
23 or older as of Jan 01, 2008
Married
Veteran
Have Children
Active Duty Miltary
Ward of Court
From your profile here it doesn't appear you meet any of that criteria, so you would need your parents information.
Once you fill out the FAFSA, the dept. of education will calculate how much financial assistance you need, and then communicate that info to the university of choice, which for you would be Miami University. The financial aid dept. there would compile a package of aid that contains federal pell grants, any state grants, work study funds, loans, scholarships available, etc. At that point you will know what financial aid you will have available.
At our college, the majority of students get full tuition, fees, and books funded through financial aid. What the government doesn't pick up, local scholarships and work study does.
Hope this helps, I see you are on myspace so feel free to hit me up there or continue posting any questions here.