College Student getting ruined by annual taxes. Any Help?...Please?

I am 21 years old and have been an Independent College Student since i Enrolled. I am broke enough to qualify for Pell grants, financial loans, etc.. However, the only way i am able to live (i.e. rent, gas, books, food,so on) is by maintaining a job i have that is a great driving distance from campus. The drawback is that i am a carpenter apprentice, and i am told that qualifies me as an independant contractor as opposed to college student for taxes. While my college buds are laughing about their returns, or the breaks their dad got, i am stuck at home with another $1,000 bill from the government. Is there a tax loophole i have missed, or am i characterized incorrectly? i am entirely ignorant on tax issues, so any help would be so beneficial, i couldnt explain. Thank you.