How do people pay for college?

I go to Case Western Reserve University, which is known for pre-med and has good merit aid. (My ACT score was 35 and I got a $30,000/year University Scholarship when I applied in 2013. Based on [this thread](CaseWestern Reserve University Class of 2020 EA Results Thread! - Case Western Reserve University - College Confidential Forums), many students have gotten large merit awards this year as well.)

More generally, I would recommend looking for schools that are known for good merit aid. There are lots of old threads that list some of them.