I'd echo Betty's sentiments, Lime... Sorry you couldn't get it worked out the way you want.
The only solution I know of is the one I used. I joined the service and after I got out I put myself through college on the GI Bill. If you decide to try that I would suggest the Air Force or the Coast Guard. It seems to me that they usually only take the brightest of people who enlist, and they treat their enlisted people better than the other services do. (At least this was true way back when I was in.) Just a thought.