Applying for college is so tough and the financial aid process is hard also

any suggestions? Well I live in Alabama but I have a lot of family in Northern California so I am going to college there. I don't want to and will not stay in Alabama. THe application process is so much ahrder than I expected though, I have a 4.33 weighted GPA 3.83 unweighted a 26 on the ACT and am in many leadership positions at my school and have a lot of service hours. I just can't think of anything to write college essays on and it really discouraging. Also, It's really depressing that when I get accepted I wil have to go throught so much stuff for financial aid. the colleges I'm looking at are like $46,000 a year and I have to get a lot of aid to get that down to a reasonable cost for my family.... somewhere around $5,000. It's really stresing me out does anyone have any suggestions?