Financial Aid Books

How to Go to College Almost for Free

Ben Kaplan

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 78 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Make your educational dreams come true!

Worried about how to pay for college? Afraid of drowning in a sea of student debt? Sure, Ben Kaplan once felt that way too. But that was before he discovered that there are billions of scholarship dollars out there for students with all types of interests, skills, and backgrounds. After winning enough college cash to cover virtually the entire cost of his dream school, he's written an indispensable guide that shows you how to stake your own scholarship claim.

Now in this fully revised and updated edition, Ben distills his proven step-by-step game plan that positions you to win big money for college -- regardless of your age, GPA, financial situation, or family background. With humor and insight, he reveals insider secrets for successfully finding, applying for, and winning lucrative scholarship awards -- empowering you with the information, inspiration, and know-how to afford the college of your choice and realize your educational dreams.

Special Note: As a valued reader of this book, you also receive access to the Coach's Locker Room at Ben Kaplan's ScholarshipCoach.com website. The Coach's Locker Room provides a wealth of bonus material, updates to information contained in How to Go to College Almost for Free, question and answer postings, and other helpful resources.

The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College

Harlan Cohen

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Total reviews: 33 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

In college, there's a surprise around every corner...

But that doesn't mean you can't be prepared! From sharing a bathroom with 40 strangers to sharing lecture notes, The Naked Roommate is your behind-the-scenes look at EVERYTHING you need to know about college (but never knew you needed to know).

This essential guide is packed with expert advice on everything from managing money to managing stress--plus hilarious, outrageous and telling stories from students on over 100 college campuses:

College Living
-Dorm do's, don'ts and dramas
-Lying, noisy, nasty roommates

Finding Friends
-Where they're hiding
-Friend today, gone tomorrow

Classes
-To go or not to go?
-How to get an A, C or F
-Classes in wine and bowling

Dating
-13 kinds of college hook ups
-Long distance = BIG concerns

The Party Scene
-The punch in the "fruit punch"
-Sex, drugs and the truth

Money
-Grants, loans and loose change
-Jobs: want one? How to get one
-Credit cards: handle with care

"If The Naked Roommate existed when I went to college, I would have devoured every page before I stepped foot on campus."
-Linda J. Sax, Associate Director of the Higher Education
Research Institute and Director of the CIRP Freshman Survey

The Ultimate Scholarship Book 2009: Billions of Dollars in Scholarships, Grants and Prizes (Ultimate Scholarship Book: Billions of Dollars in Scholarships,)

Gen Tanabe, Kelly Tanabe

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Not Just High School Scholarships... 4 out of 5 stars.
12 of 14 people found this review helpful.

I bought this book to look for scholarships for my high school child who will be going to college. Well, come to realize after reading through and scanning all the scholarships offered, only a small percentage are for high school students trying to raise money for college. Out of the 2043 scholarships they offer in this book by categories such as: General, Humanities/Arts, Social Sciences, Sciences, State of Residence, Membership, Ethnicity and Disability, I could only find 73 scholarships that she "might" be eligible for. They are almost all for small amounts- $1,000 or less also. It is a lot of work, for very little reward. There are less than 5 scholarships that are over $10,000 and the competition is fierce. A very large majority of the scholarships offered in this book are for college students, grad students, and adult students. I liked the book because it gives me a good "starting point", but I would say look for something geared more toward high school if that's what you need.

Editorial Review:

Information on thousands of scholarships, grants, and prizes is easily accessible in this comprehensive directory that features awards indexed by career goal, major, academics, public service, talent, athletics, religion, ethnicity, and more. Each listing contains detailed information so students and parents have everything they need to apply, including eligibility requirements, how to obtain an application, how to get more information about each award, sponsor website listings, award amounts, and key deadlines. With awards for high school, college, graduate, and adult students, this guide also includes tips on how to conduct the most effective scholarship search, how to write a winning scholarship application, and how to avoid scholarship scams.

Paying for College without Going Broke, 2009 Edition (College Admissions Guides)

Princeton Review

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Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

College help 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I did not use this product,but sent it to my son who has a college bound daughter. He thought it quite useful.

Editorial Review:

As the cost of college steadily increases, paying for it requires insider strategies to maximize financial aid and minimize college costs. Paying for College Without Going Broke 2009 is thoroughly revised and updated to take the stress, confusion, and guess-work out of applying for financial aid.

The only book to include the latest financial aid forms and lists of annual changes in tax laws, it also shows students and their parents how to calculate their aid eligibility before applying to college and plan ahead to improve their chances of receiving aid. The book also includes advice on how to negotiate with financial aid offices, handle special circumstances (for single parents or independent students), and receive educational tax breaks. It is a must have for anyone concerned about the soaring costs of college tuition.

Scholarship Handbook 2009 (College Board Scholarship Handbook)

The College Board

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Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Scholarship Handbook 2009 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 3 people found this review helpful.

A necessary resource when searching for colleges. Information is concise and to the point. Coverage seems exhaustive, but the omission of Rutgers in New Jersey is curious.

Editorial Review:

The Scholarship Handbook 2009 is an ideal resource for students and parents who need help paying for college.  It provides complete, authoritative facts about more than 2,100 scholarship, internship, and loan programs offered to undergraduates by foundations, charitable organizations, and state and federal government agencies.  Each program is clearly described, and indexes help students quickly find scholarships for which they qualify.  Included is a planning worksheet to help organize applications and meet critical deadlines. 

The Best Way to Save for College - A Complete Guide to Section 529 Plans

Joseph F. Hurley

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Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

College savings plans, 529 Plans, Qualified state tuition programs, QSTPs, Prepaid tuition contracts, Educational savings accounts. They go by many names, but they all represent the same thing: a REVOLUTION in the way families with children are investing for the future.

What other type of program allows you to invest over $100,000 in a professionally-managed tax-deferred account for each child without regard to age or income level? Where else does your state offer significant benefits for investing, including tax deductions, income exemption, and even scholarship money. What other mechanism allows estates by hundreds of thousands of dollars without gift tax, and without giving up control of the assets?

The answer is that no other IRS-approved program provides the combination of benefits that a Section 529 state-sponsored college savings plan does. Investing for future college expenses will never be the same again. And forget what you may have heard about these plans. You are not limited to the plan in your own state, and you do not have to send your child to an in-state college. You can even set up an account for yourself!

In THE BEST WAY TO SAVE FOR COLLEGE - A Complete Guide to Section 529 Plans, Joseph F. Hurley, CPA describes how 529 Plans work: the tax rules, planning strategies, impact on college financial aid. He compares them to other alternatives such as the Education IRA, savings bonds, and mutual funds. And he describes each state's plan, including its best and worst features. The various state plans are not created equal. Learn which ones to use and which ones to stay away from.

You've heard about them. Now it's time to learn about them. Whether you are a professional planner, a college financial aid officer, or a careful investor, you need to have all the facts.

The Scholarship & Financial Aid Solution: How to Go to College for Next to Nothing with Short Cuts, Tricks, and Tips from Start to Finish

Debra Lipphardt

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Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

College costs are continuing to rise, with a four-year private school averaging $22,218 and a four-year public school averaging $5,836 for the 2006-07 school year. The good news is that more than $134 billion in financial aid is available. The Scholarship & Financial Aid Handbook will show you how to earmark some of that money for your college education, ensuring that you will be able to afford a higher education. In this book, you will learn about the different types of scholarships, including those based on academics, awards, honors, leadership, test scores, extracurricular activities, majors, community service, volunteer work, essays, financial aid, minority status, even some unusual ones. You will learn how to determine your eligibility for these scholarships, as well as how to enlist the help of your parents, how to recognize and avoid scholarship scams, how to create a résumé, how to ask and who to ask for letters of recommendation, how to ace interviews with scholarship committees, and how to prepare for your interview. Additionally, you will discover where to look for scholarships, from your school to local organizations, businesses, and online. You will be provided with tips on filling out applications and tips for writing essays, as well as how to alter your essays for multiple uses. Also included are possible essay topics, sample interview questions, and information on state grants, FAFSA, and work study. The Scholarship & Financial Aid Handbook is intended to be a guide for students, parents, and school personnel to assist students in finding and obtaining scholarships. The author uses her years of experience and exhaustive research to help you benefit from scholarships. Even if you do not have above average grades, participate in lots of extracurricular activities, or have an abundance of extracurricular activities, you can find money to go to college. Just read this book and apply the techniques found within.

Kaplan Scholarships 2009 Edition: Billions of Dollars in Free Money for College (Kaplan Scholarships)

Kaplan

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Editorial Review:

Kaplan Scholarships, 2009 Edition features information on programs that offer significant and unrestricted scholarships combined with tips and advice on how to get them. The guide includes:

*A list of scholarships--each worth at least $1,000--that do not restrict to any one school, and do not require repayment of any kind.

 

*Detailed summaries on each scholarship's financial data, duration of scholarship, eligibility requirements, and application and contact information.

 

*Expert tips and advice on how applicants should research their options, set a timetable, apply for the best opportunities, and avoid scholarship scams.

Getting Financial Aid 2009 (College Board Guide to Getting Financial Aid)

The College Board

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Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Getting Financial Aid 2009 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This publication is an essential reference in applying for financial aid at US colleges. It tells the prospective student how to apply and lists 1000's of available scholarships. Indexing could be improved. Scholarships are listed alphabetically by state. There is no index to type of scholarship.

Editorial Review:

This simple, friendly, step-by-step guide explains how to get financial aid.  It also gives the "financial aid picture" for each of 3,000 colleges, universities, and technical schools including "Know the Lingo" guides to financial aid terms; step-by-step guides to filling out the FAFSA and other forms; details about unique scholarships offered by colleges; advice on working through college; and strategies for going "beyond the forms" to explain circumstances to colleges. 

How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay: 30 Essays That Won Over $3 Million in Scholarships

Gen Tanabe, Kelly Tanabe

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Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Very helpful book 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 4 people found this review helpful.

This is a very helpful book! I got a good ideal of how to write a winning scholarship essay.

Editorial Review:

In this important resource, 30 real, winning scholarship essays are analyzed, revealing what makes them successful and how they fit the judges' criteria. Essays and interviews are the two components of scholarship competition that often determine the award's recipient, yet most books on scholarships simply provide a directory of awards. This book includes sample interview questions and answers, along with strategies to help students overcome nervousness and be more prepared. Roundtable panels of judges and applicants supply further inside information regarding the winning qualities sought after by award-giving organizations. Advice for finding scholarships—using books, the Internet, personal connections, and sources in the community—is covered. These tips are especially valuable in an era where private education tops more than $100,000, and most of the 15 million college students in the U.S. are in need of financial help.