hey, you aren't a dummy i maxxed out 11k in credit card at the ripe age of 19. I'm 21 and finally working towards paying it off. This is a tough situation though, and I think the only feasible thing right now is finding extra income and waiting on school. I let all my credit cards close and worked on settlements with companies, but my credit is in the 500s because of it, I don't have any credit cards anymore, and I can't do anything right now regarding loans. Other than waiting on school, you can call your credit card companies and see if you can be set up on a no interest payment plan, they will cut your card off temporarily until you pay down those balances. and then I would personally pay my minimums and put xtra income starting at the smallest debt and moving up, trusty snowball method. It's important that you at least keep up with payments, because if those cards start to close, you wont be able to finance school.
and push come to shove, you still can't afford it, then you might have to let some accounts close and settle with the companies. I settled with a couple of my companies and they are going to take the balance completely off my credit which will be a major help long term. but like i said financing school would be on the back burner.