Product Description

Each year more than three million new students enter college. If you're one of them, or the parent of one of them, your biggest worry might be how to afford the up to $120,000 that a college education can cost. FastWeb's College Gold can help.

This book offers a step-by-step program that builds a complete package of scholarships, loans, and federal aid. Learn how to develop a plan, apply for loans, scholarships, and grants, and pull it all together. Let FastWeb's College Gold help you figure out how to cover the costs of college one step at a time.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #304040 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-01
• Released on: 2006-09-26
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

From Booklist
There's certainly no shortage of guides for the college bound, but this one has two aspects that set it apart. First, the book bears the imprimatur of FastWeb, one of the most popular online college search sites. Second, its purview is limited to finances--often given short shrift for the very reason that the subject is so daunting. Recommending a patchwork approach to funding, Kantrowitz, whose specialty is college financing, offers clear explanations and a useful time line to help readers acquire and bundle resources from a variety of sources. The book also goes one better than many college guides in another way--there's a helpful chapter designed to alert readers to financing scams and other process pitfalls. The fictional scenarios heading each chapter may ease readers into the details, but they aren't necessary. The information is what counts here, and frequent references to linking the book to a special Web site promise even more helpful guidance. Stephanie Zvirin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Mark Kantrowitz is a nationally recognized financial aid expert, regularly interviewed by CNN, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, and more. Mark is the Director of Advanced Projects at FastWeb and publisher of FinAid.org.

Customer Reviews

Great Information
I am a financial aid director and this book will really help families with the financial aid process. It's easy to read and the information is right on!

This book can really help first time parents with the college funding process!

One of the Best
College Gold is written in plain language and is logically organized. The book is an excellent resource manual that provides essential information in a user-friendly manner. As a HS Guidance Director, I especially recommend College Gold for students and parents just starting out, with little or no knowledge of what lies ahead. Planning and savings suggestions are quite sound as are the sections on evaluating aid "packages," making monetary decisions, and avoiding scams. Overall, I'd rate College Gold as one of the better comprehensive financial aid guides on the market today.

This book is worth much more than you will pay for!!
I am returning to college after a "millenium"... having been out of touch of the financial aid process, not knowing credible sources of info regarding smart ways to optimally secure financial aid money... this book is the guide and "Guru"! It talks to you as though you are a parent trying to understand Financial Aid to help pay for your childrens' college expenses.. Well it helps you to first relax, and know that you don't have to do it all by yourself... no matter how late in the game you've entered. It does not beat around the bush and give you weak links... instead its pretty straight forward, it tells you about the Financial Aid process as it is, and informs you not only about various federal+state aids, but also private ones too... For the student this book is gold indeed... so if you are a parent, certainly read this book thoroughly, because you are bound to find ways you can save and get more help to fund your childrens' educational expenses.. You're an investor, investing in your kids... so by reading this book, you are ensuring that you investment will go a long way! That's smart :-) ...it will also help you to learn about all eligible tax deductions.. so you can intelligently discuss about these with your tax specialist. Great book for parents who are looking at various college savings plans for their children.

Make your children read and understand all that's covered in this book... you are doing it for them.. they need to help themselves too! ... especially because they will need to learn the tricks+tips of scholarships, grants, negotiating for more aid money, etc.. most of which they will need to do at college... so don't let them off the hook... make sure they have really worked this book in and out...

Next, for people like myself returning to college... this book is a must! Cannot emphasize this enough... it will set you ahead of the financial aid game, and will give you the tools to use when negotiating for more money, scholarships, loans, etc... This will be of particular importance to "Independent Students"..

Instead of stressing for college aid/money, do something about it - Go get this book now and spend a silent weekend absorbed in it! Bring out that investor in you :-)