Times running out

I can't find a co-signer with good credit. It's already hard enough to ask someone to be one for you. It's like asking them to take a bullet for you, in a way. Seems like I'm the only responsible one that pays on time. I don't play when it comes to money. I will be a hermit for a while, grow hair on my legs, or whatever, before I miss a payment.
I can't just let it go. All the stress and the time to fill out the college applications....writing essays. It feels like I've been waiting so long for this and this crap comes out of nowhere. A friend said that I should put school off for a year.
No. I have to fight for this, even if it doesn't turn out the way I hope it will.