College Funding Secrets


Book Description

College Funding Secrets creates a clear path through the jungle that is college financial planning. Each chapter gives you a thorough understanding of the ins and outs of college planning and teaches you how to avoid the biggest pitfalls along the way.The four main objectives of this book are:1.Learning the rules about the Financial Aid System2.Avoiding common mistakes that could cost you tens of thousands of dollars3.Selecting the right school to fit your budget4.Exploring the options available to pay the tuitionTucked between these main objectives are college funding secrets about how to get schools to compete for your student, how to receive the maximum amount of money for your student from the schools, the different types of aid you can take advantage of and more. To easily reference back to the vast wealth of information, you will find a small Take Away section at the end of each chapter that recaps the subject matter.




How to Go to College on a Shoe String


Book Description

Once again in 2006 the cost to attend college was double the inflation rate, according to the report "Trends in College Pricing 2006". The average rate of tuition at four-year private colleges was about $21,235; four-year public universities average $5,491. Tuition costs, of course, are just the beginning now add room and board, the cost of attending a private college is $29,026 per year on average, and $12,127 at four-year public universities. Take a look at IVY league universities such as Princeton and the total fees will climb to nearly $37,000. An 8% college inflation rate means that the cost of college doubles every nine years. For a baby born today, this means that college costs will be more than three times current rates when the child is ready for college. The average debt for graduating college seniors who borrow to finance their undergraduate degree is just under $20,000. But there is good news. There is more financial aid available than ever before over $134 billion. And, despite all of these college cost increases, a college education remains an affordable choice for most families. Armed with the information detailed in this comprehensive book you will be privy to over 2,200 programs that offer scholarships, internships, or loans to more than 1.7 million students each year. These are scholarships, grants, and loan programs that you have never heard of for example: The Millennium Scholarship Offers $10,000 to students who have lived in Nevada for at least two years before they graduate from high school. State-funded by Nevada's portion of the lawsuit settlement against national tobacco companies. Or Patrick Kerr Skateboard Scholarship One $5,000 and three $1,000 scholarships to students who promote skateboarding. Created by a Philadelphia mother after her 15-year-old son was killed while skateboarding. Are you tall ? Then apply for the Tall Clubs International Scholarship, Males 6'2" or taller and females 5'10" or higher qualify for a $1000.00 scholarship. In addition to scholarships and grants you will learn hundreds of innovative ways to slash your college cost including: calculating your college budget, Ways to Reduce your college budget, buy your text books & supplies cheap, Earn college credit on an accelerated basis, CLEP, Earn college credit outside the traditional classroom, Make use of payment alternatives, Tax credits, Combine higher education and course-related employment, National and community service, Tuition prepayment plans, Federal Funds, State Aid, credit card use, Private Sector Aid, College Funds. How to apply for loans, grants and scholarships, Preparing the financial Aid Packages, Saving for college, retirement funds, what to do when you are parents are divorced, getting awards, Private Scholarships, The Military, National Service, working while going to school, inexpensive dating ideas, medical & dental coverage, your car, your cell phone, your computer, your dorm room, spring break, entertainment, transportation. Maybe saving money to you does not matter, perhaps you won the lottery, but if you want to learn hundreds of innovative ways to save thousands on your college costs than this book is for you.




The Retirement Scholarship Strategy


Book Description

Discover the new way to save and pay for college without sacrificing your retirement with the retirement scholarship strategy. Plus, learn how to reduce the cost of college without searching for private scholarships. This strategy works for those who have younger kids or students already in high school. It works for those who already have college savings or those who don't have any college savings and a senior in high school. This is not a product like a 529 plan. It is a financial strategy that is used by the banks, ultra wealthy, and large corporations. As a father of 5 kids myself, I understand the stress of paying for college. Fortunately there is a solution that I call the retirement scholarship strategy.




Secrets of a Financial Aid Pro


Book Description

How to successfully navigate each step of the financial aid process, including charts, smart tips, worksheets, and talking points to guide important conversations with their student. The book is written from the perspective of an insider passionate about opening educational opportunities for children, regardless of cost.




The College Solution


Book Description

“The College Solution helps readers look beyond over-hyped admission rankings to discover schools that offer a quality education at affordable prices. Taking the guesswork out of saving and finding money for college, this is a practical and insightful must-have guide for every parent!” —Jaye J. Fenderson, Seventeen’s College Columnist and Author, Seventeen’s Guide to Getting into College “This book is a must read in an era of rising tuition and falling admission rates. O’Shaughnessy offers good advice with blessed clarity and brevity.” —Jay Mathews, Washington Post Education Writer and Columnist “I would recommend any parent of a college-bound student read The College Solution.” —Kal Chany, Author, The Princeton Review’s Paying for College Without Going Broke “The College Solution goes beyond other guidebooks in providing an abundance of information about how to afford college, in addition to how to approach the selection process by putting the student first.” —Martha “Marty” O’Connell, Executive Director, Colleges That Change Lives “Lynn O’Shaughnessy always focuses on what’s in the consumer’s best interest, telling families how to save money and avoid making costly mistakes.” —Mark Kantrowitz, Publisher, FinAid.org and Author, FastWeb College Gold “An antidote to the hype and hysteria about getting in and paying for college! O’Shaughnessy has produced an excellent overview that demystifies the college planning process for students and families.” —Barmak Nassirian, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers For millions of families, the college planning experience has become extremely stressful. And, unless your child is an elite student in the academic top 1%, most books on the subject won’t help you. Now, however, there’s a college guide for everyone. In The College Solution, top personal finance journalist Lynn O’Shaughnessy presents an easy-to-use roadmap to finding the right college program (not just the most hyped) and dramatically reducing the cost of college, too. Forget the rankings! Discover what really matters: the quality and value of the programs your child wants and deserves. O’Shaughnessy uncovers “industry secrets” on how colleges actually parcel out financial aid—and how even “average” students can maximize their share. Learn how to send your kids to expensive private schools for virtually the cost of an in-state public college...and how promising students can pay significantly less than the “sticker price” even at the best state universities. No other book offers this much practical guidance on choosing a college...and no other book will save you as much money! • Secrets your school’s guidance counselor doesn’t know yet The surprising ways colleges have changed how they do business • Get every dime of financial aid that’s out there for you Be a “fly on the wall” inside the college financial aid office • U.S. News & World Report: clueless about your child Beyond one-size-fits-all rankings: finding the right program for your teenager • The best bargains in higher education Overlooked academic choices that just might be perfect for you




Fundraising Strategies for Community Colleges


Book Description

This book is a co-publication with CASE.Fundraising Strategies for Community Colleges is a hands-on, step-by-step guide to building a million-dollar-a-year development office.Community colleges educate nearly half the undergraduates in America yet receive as little as two percent of all gifts to higher education. Private philanthropy is now essential to the mission of community colleges. In order to gain a fair share, community colleges can rely on this book to deploy strategies effectively used by 4-year colleges. The author, Steve Klingaman, has raised over $40 million dollars for two-year and four-year colleges over a 25-year development career.With its emphasis on planning the work and working the plan, Fundraising Strategies for Community Colleges offers practical advice and concrete steps on how to build a strong advancement team with robust Annual Fund, grants, major gifts, planned giving programs.Topics include:* Strategies used at one two-year college that raised $50 million over ten years* 75 boxed tips on the details that matter most* How to create an institutional commitment to advancement* How to enhance the advancement function* How to build an effective foundation board that gives* How to grow the Annual Fund with sustainable, repeatable gifts* Secrets top universities use to close major gifts* Continuous quality improvement techniques to improve results year after year.Fundraising Strategies for Community Colleges is the only comprehensive development guide to focus on community college fund raising. Written for development professionals, college presidents, board members, trustees, faculty leaders, and other college leadership, this book is an essential, practical guide that fills a critical gap in the market.




How to Appeal for More College Financial Aid


Book Description

College financial aid is not like negotiating with a car dealership, where bluff and bluster will get you a bigger, better deal. Appealing for more financial aid depends on presenting the college financial aid office with adequate documentation of special circumstances that affect the family's ability to pay for college.This book provides a guide for students and their families on how to appeal for more financial aid for college and how to improve the likelihood of a successful appeal. This book also discusses techniques for increasing eligibility for need-based financial aid and merit aid.The topics covered by this book include corrections, updates, special circumstances, writing an effective financial aid appeal letter, adequate documentation, professional judgment adjustments, unusual circumstances, dependency overrides and the differences between the FAFSA and CSS Profile forms.




How to Go to College Almost for Free


Book Description

Presents a step-by-step guide for prospective college students that shows students of all ages how to find and win scholarship prizes and cut down on student debt.