Paying for College Without Going Broke 2007 (College Admissions Guides)

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The Most Important Prep Course

Struggling to get through it

Paying for College Without Going Broke

Must read for parents

great book for filing the FAFSA

Paying for College Without Going Broke 2007 (College Admissions Guides)
Princeton Review
Manufacturer: Princeton Review
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

College Guides | Education | Reference | Subjects | Books
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Financial Aid | College & University | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
College | By Level | Education | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
College & Education Costs | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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How to Go to College Almost for Free

Don't Miss Out: The Ambitious Student's Guide to Financial Aid (Don't Miss Out)

ASIN: 0375765670
Release Date: 2006-10-10

Book Description

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 2007 is thoroughly revised and updated to take the stress, confusion, and guess-work out of applying for financial aid.

The only book to included 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.

Customer Reviews:

The Most Important Prep Course.......2007-09-18

Parents spend thousands on SAT preparation, tens of thousands on a private school education, and then leave their assets to the tender mercies of the Board of Education. Don't allow your financial future to be savaged by the struggle to cover ever-increasing college costs. It is essential to know how your answers to the 103 questions that comprise the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) will be interpreted. I read Sallie Mae's book, which highly recommends Sallie Mae loans - calls them an "investment". They are not, they are a long-term debt. Kalman Chaney offers unbiased advice for maximizing your awards, minimizing your debt, and weighing your college choices with more tools (like cost-to-attend and likelihood of providing aid) in hand. It is an eye opening book, I ordered the annual update, too. It is a bit overwhelming, and even if you decide to hire a college funding advisor to help you with this process, you should still buy the book.

Struggling to get through it.......2007-08-16

After several months, I'm not quite halfway through the book, because just about anything else is more interesting and will supersede this on my reading list. That's probably not Princeton's fault. I could use a guide about one-third the length of this book.

Less conscientious readers would probably get a lot out of this by skipping many sections, but the college aid process is entirely new to me, so I'm skipping precious little.

The review also points out (quite correctly, I'm sure) that the parent's relationship with the financial aid officer is by nature--civil, respectful, cordial--but adversarial. The whole thought that I'll have to arrange the financial facts of my family to my best advantage is, for reasons that are difficult to explain, discouraging.

Paying for College Without Going Broke.......2007-03-19

This book became the "Bible for financial aid", it was a great tool for guidance into the aid process. I was able to take the information and negotitate a better aid package for my son and daughter. Thanks to the Princeton review! P.S. my daughter received 9 letters of acceptance and over $14,000.00 in scholarships and grants.

Must read for parents.......2007-02-13

This book offers some helpful advice for maximizing the amount of aid one might receive.

great book for filing the FAFSA.......2007-01-11

this book was really usefull in figuring out all the information needed to fill out the FAFSA.Reading it also helped make the form easier to understand when it came to filling it out

Average customer rating:

Low Cost College Options by Ben Kaplan
Experts Opinion
Very Helpful
$90,000 and admission to Harvard
Totally Free Is Even Better

How to Go to College Almost for Free
Ben Kaplan
Manufacturer: Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Education | Reference | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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Paying for College Without Going Broke 2007 (College Admissions Guides)
Get Free Cash for College 2007: Secrets to Winning Scholarships (Get Free Cash for College)

ASIN: 0060937653
Release Date: 2001-09-18

Book Description

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.

Customer Reviews:

Low Cost College Options by Ben Kaplan.......2007-05-27

This book is perfect for the student searching for a cheaper way to attend
college. The author presents various funding supplements. i.e.
o merit-based factors in applications
o HOPE Scholarships
o tax credits
o private sponsors
o essay writing

By far, the college work-study program is perhaps the largest funding
source. Hundreds of positions have been created to assist colleges in
running educational supplemental activities. i.e. labs, computers, the
library, premises management and a plethora of activities too numerous
to list here.

The author shows how to write a model financial aid/scholarship essay
to include the following:
o personal information and verifiable accomplishments/stories
o growth experiences
o detailed knowledge on subjects of interest

The rendition would be helpful as a guide to anyone preparing to enter
college.

Experts Opinion.......2007-05-18

As a college planning professional I love Ben's book and speaking engagements. For just several dollars this book breaks down how to apply for merit scholarships. I have used the principles in this book with success, however have found it tougher going as of late.

I read from one post a true statement that Ben was very bright and probably top 1% on his SAT, which I agree. However for almost no cost yet lot's of time, you can save money on college utilizing scholarships. Maybe not a free ride to Harvard, however perhaps $3,000 to $7,000.

I would also emphasize local organization (Chamber, Rotary, etc.), local churches, and corporations can be excellent sources with less competition. Tuition discounts for students that apply to colleges, which they are usually in the top 25% of the student population SAT scores at that college is an excellent strategy that can easily save thousands.

Angelo J. Robles
Author / Speaker
Latest Book: College Money Planning

"Secret Strategies to Secure an Elite College Education for Your Child While Shaving Thousands Off the Tuition"

[...].

Very Helpful.......2007-03-08

How to Go to College Almost for Free is a wonderful book, well-organized and easy to read. It's been a great help with college and scholarship applications.

$90,000 and admission to Harvard.......2007-01-12

The author earned $90,000 in scholarship earnings. It seems to reasonable that the author scored in the top 1 percent of his ACT and SAT scores which he fails to disclose. The guy was a brain. The author didn't spent large amounts of time on his scholar quest, but did apply for many prestigous merit scholarships. A fact that I liked about him because he demonstrated a williness to distinquish himself and high aspirations for merit. The theme could be "How I went to Harvard and was accepted; earned a degree in economics program; and a financial fortune coaching/mentor/cheerleading other people into similar tactics to get scholarship money.

On the other hand, the author does highlight a number of online resources to use for apply to scholarships like fastweb and scholarexperts. These online resources are convenient.

The book does not talk technically about grants, loans, and federal aid. The book does provide some helpful suggestions about preparing for essays, saving money, taxes, and scholarships of merit.

This is a fun book to read, but it is not a silver spoon to college.

Totally Free Is Even Better.......2006-03-14

Ben Kaplan's book is great. I recommend it to all my students who are looking for financial help. I also tell my students to run by the possibility of the totally free college, West Point. You can learn about the significance of West Point to America by reading Norman Thomas Remick's, "West Point: Character Leadership Education..".

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

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The Naked Roommate
Amazing Read
Buy this for my college bound teenagers
Naked Roommate
Are You Kidding Me????

The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College
Harlan Cohen
Manufacturer: Sourcebooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Been There, Should've Done That II : More Tips for Making the Most of College
A Girl's Guide to College: Making the Most of the Best Four Years of Your Life
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You're On Your Own (But I'm Here if You Need Me) : Mentoring Your Child During the College Years

ASIN: 1402203373

Book Description

Harlan Cohen knows students. Through his syndicated column "Help Me, Harlan!" and his annual college speaking tour, Harlan has spent years helping thousands of students cope with the tough transition to college life.

The Naked Roommate gives college students the 100 things they need to know to get over the speed bumps and make the most out of college. Packed with advice from Harlan's years of experience, as well as stories and tips straight from students who have lived it, this book covers all the need-to-know questions. Topics include:

€ Roommates: My Lying, Stealing, Klepto Roommate; Noisy, Naughty, and Nasty Roommates; and The Ultimate Roommate Rule

€ Greek Life: Getting In; Fraternity/Sorority Life: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

€ Life inside the Classroom: To Go or Not to Go; Most Professors Don't Hate You; and How to Be More Than Just a Number

€ Drinking on Campus: NOT Everyone Is Doing It; Dating & Drinking; and Should You Get Busted

€ Money/Laundry/Cheap Eats: Paying for College; Cheaper Books; and Bad Checks, Bad Credit, and Other Bad Ideas

Customer Reviews:

The Naked Roommate.......2007-09-10

Great shipping. Got this for my little brother who is heading off to college next year. He's been really worried about it, and this book really helped him out. It's hilarious, and very informative.

Amazing Read.......2007-07-30

I am a first generation college student so it is not as though I had anyone to talk to about what to expect in college. I ordered this book to answer some of my questions. This book did that and so much more. It wasn't a boring "self-help" book; it was engaging and informative at the same time. Truly amazing read. If you are going off to school or your children are going off to school, get this book.

Buy this for my college bound teenagers.......2007-06-28

The author, Harlan Cohen, gives advice on the hard issues, like dating, sex, alcohol and drugs, plus tips on going Greek, getting involved, skipping class and dealing with roommates and the stuff we tend to overlook, like avoiding the 'freshman 15' and doing laundry without losing your unmentionables. And yes, there is a tip on how to deal with a naked roommate (tip #16). My all time favorite advice is what to do if your roommate enjoys having sex in your presence. First he suggests you talk to her and let her know it bothers you and if that doesn't work then invite friends over to watch. She might move her lovemaking to somewhere a little more private if she realizes she has an audience.

There are so many things to love of about this book, but let's start with humor. Harlan doesn't spend over 400 pages preaching. Instead he writes as if he's sitting around chatting with his friend [and that friend is you, the reader]. He cracks jokes. He invites you to check out his mySpace and Facebook pages. And he never once talks down to you. This is great considering the target audience is teenagers and I think we all know how hard they are to get through to.

Another great thing about this book is the testimonials. Each tip begins with a comment from a real live college student. And the tips come from students all over the U.S., even Iowa. It was great to hear from students who are living it, have learned from their mistakes and are willing to share [anonymously]. It made the advice feel more credible since we're hearing it from all different types of students from all different kind of schools.

But what I love best about this book are the chapters on the tough stuff; sex, alcohol and drugs. I'm one of those who thinks we can [and should] preach abstinence and `just say no' to drugs and alcohol, but we also need to make sure our kids understand the consequences and know what to do if they don't listen to our preaching. Some of our kids will experiment and they need to know what to do in those situations. Harlan does a great job of giving both sides.

In the sex section, his advice is to not have sex until you are absolutely ready and in love and won't be ashamed of it in the morning. Several times he states you must feel comfortable enough with your partner to discuss both of your sexual histories. He discusses different birth control options plus what to do if you make a mistake. And he pounds home the point that you need to make sure you aren't doing something drunk that you wouldn't do sober.

In the alcohol and drug sections, he makes it clear that not everybody on campus is getting drunk and high. Kids come in to college thinking everybody gets drunk four nights a week, but the reality is more than half of students are there to [gasp] get an education. But he also has advice for those students who do decide to drink or do drugs. He suggests they figure out how to balance it all; drinking and making it to class so they don't flunk out. He also has some suggestions for dealing with druggie roommates or alcoholic friends.

This is the stuff our college students want to hear about. They don't want to hear their parents preaching "be safe." They want real advice about what to do when they find themselves in these situations and Harlan gives them those answers.

I could go on and on about the great tips offered in this book, but instead I'll just leave you with one last tip; finding your place on campus (tip #3). Throughout the book Harlan emphasizes the need to be involved. Several tips talk about joining sporting clubs or religious clubs or political clubs or starting your own club. This is one of the most important tips in the book. Too many kids spend their first few months holed up in their room not making friends. College is such an amazing experience. Not one second should be wasted and I think with the help of this book kids will be able to dive right in and make the best of it. If you have teenagers get a copy of this book. If you have toddlers, put this in your Amazon wishlist so you'll remember to buy the latest edition when they are teenagers. I can't wait for my teenagers to read it.

Naked Roommate.......2007-06-27

I bought this book from a reccomendation from a friend for my daughter and her 2 friends. Each on of them thought "Why did you by this" Once they got reading it they all thought it was very informative. They all have shared it with their friends and all have enjoyed it.

Are You Kidding Me????.......2007-05-21

I'm down to my last few quarters of school and NOW I find out about this book? Are you kidding me? Why didn't I hear about it sooner? Why didn't someone tell me! This book is full of great advice and tips for everything in college; literally everything. I heard about it recently when an author and comedian I have come to admire put it up on his website, recommending it. What a great read. I see hear that some readers say it's just common sense stuff most "kids" can figure out on their own. Well, it's not. I still haven't figured some of this stuff out. It really saves you lots of time and energy and I recommend it to any new freshman, as a gift to graduating HS seniors, or to any current college student. It's a must-read. A must-read for navigating the college world of dating and sex is God Is a Woman: Dating Disasters. Another good read isThe CollegeHumor Guide to College: Selling Kidneys for Beer Money, Sleeping with Your Professors, Majoring in Communications, and Other Really Good Ideas

The Best Way to Save for College 2007: A Complete Guide to 529 Plans (Best Way to Save for College)

Average customer rating:

Most useful information omitted
Excellent overview of strategies/options for saving for college (not just 529 plans)
Best Way to Save for College.....

The Best Way to Save for College 2007: A Complete Guide to 529 Plans (Best Way to Save for College)
Joseph F. Hurley
Manufacturer: Savingforcollege.com LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Introduction | Investing | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Management | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Budgeting & Money Management | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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General | Reference | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

529 & Other College Savings Plans for Dummies
Savingforcollege.com's Family Guide to College Savings
Make Your Kid a Millionaire: 11 Easy Ways Anyone Can Secure a Child's Financial Future
Paying for College Without Going Broke 2007 (College Admissions Guides)
FastWeb College Gold: The Step-by-Step Guide to Paying for College

ASIN: 0974297798

Customer Reviews:

Most useful information omitted.......2007-02-26

This book is fine for people who have never heard of a 529 plan. However, for people who would like to compare 529 plans in order to choose the best investment vehicle for college savings will be sadly disappointed. The book offers a checklist of questions to ask about state 529 plans, yet, in the description of each plan, none of these questions are answered. This requires that you look up or contact each plan individually in order to get these questions answered such as whether the plan allows rollovers, if the plan is IRS qualified and if the plan accepts contributions from non-owners, etc. Also, most people comparing 529 plans would like some general idea of how popular each fund is and how well it has been perfomring recently. The author could have easily summarized this information generally for each plan but chose not to, again, leaving it to the reader to research each plan individually. I would not recommend this book. The information given about each 529 state plan is almost identical across states and, again, information that would distinguish each plan from another is omitted.

Excellent overview of strategies/options for saving for college (not just 529 plans).......2007-02-01

This book clarified several doubts, myths and misconceptions about 529 plans. I was concerned that the book only discussed 529 plans (because of the subtitle), but even though 529 plans are the main topic covered, it also talks about other options (UGMA/UTMA accounts, Coverdell ESAs, etc.) compares and contrasts them.

The book is clearly written and explains financial and tax details of 529 plans at a level most readers will easily understand. You should buy the latest edition (2007) as it contains the most updated information. For instance it mentions about the pension bill that extended the tax-free account withdrawals for 529s beyond 2010.

I was also very happy about the detailed chapter on tax benefits. It mentions several unique features of some plans, for instance the fact that if you are a resident of the state of Pennsylvania, you can now deduct contributions (up to $12,000) to any 529 plan from your state income tax.

About a third of the book has an overview of 529 plans offered by each state, while useful, this information is also available in the companion [...], which also happens to be an excellent resource. In my wish list for this book I would include access to the premium content on the companion website.

Best Way to Save for College............2007-01-18

Has some great ideas for 529 plans. Take home message: it's not hard to get started, and get started NOW if you've not already! I wanted to get a better idea of 529s, as we've had Upromise for quite a while now. Good State-by-State analysis.

The College Board Scholarship Handbook 2007: All-new 10th Edition (College Board Scholarship Handbook)

Average customer rating:

the College Board Scholarship handbook 2007

The College Board Scholarship Handbook 2007: All-new 10th Edition (College Board Scholarship Handbook)
The College Board
Manufacturer: College Board
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

College Guides | Education | Reference | Subjects | Books

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Directories | Catalogs & Directories | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Test Prep Central | Reference | Subjects | Books

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The College Board Book of Majors: 2nd Edition (College Board Index of Majors and Graduate Degrees)
Scholarships, Grants and Prizes 2007 (Peterson's Scholarships, Grants & Prizes)

ASIN: 0874477670
Release Date: 2006-07-11

Book Description

The Scholarship Handbook 2007 is the ideal resource for students and parents looking for alternative ways to fund a college education. It provides complete and authoritative facts about more than 2,100 scholarship, internship, and loan programs offered to undergraduates nationwide 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.

Customer Reviews:

the College Board Scholarship handbook 2007.......2006-11-10

you can do much better on Fastweb and it is free.
the book is not well organized, and I got a headache trying to figure out what we qualify for. buy it used or better yet go to the library.

College Access: Opportunity or Privilege?

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College Access: Opportunity or Privilege?

Manufacturer: College Board
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Education | Reference | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Policy | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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The Student Aid Game
The Power of Privilege: Yale and America's Elite Colleges

ASIN: 0874477743
Release Date: 2006-10-03

Scholarship Handbook 2006 (College Board Scholarship Handbook)

Average customer rating:

Great Guide

Scholarship Handbook 2006 (College Board Scholarship Handbook)
The College Board
Manufacturer: College Board
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Education | Reference | Subjects | Books

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The College Board College Handbook 2006: All-New 43rd Edition (College Handbook)
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College Cost & Financial Aid Handbook 2006: All-New 25th Edition (College Board Guide to Getting Financial Aid)
The College Board Book of Majors: First Edition (College Board Index of Majors and Graduate Degrees)
How to Go to College Almost for Free

ASIN: 0874477522
Release Date: 2005-07-21

Book Description

he College Board Scholarship Handbook 2006 is the ideal resource for students and parents looking for alternative ways to fund a college education. It provides complete and authoritative facts about more than 2,100 scholarships, internships, and loan programs offered to undergraduates nationwide 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.

Customer Reviews:

Great Guide.......2006-03-14

This is a great guide that I recommend to all of you who are looking for scholarships. Check this out thoroughly, and if you feel you're up to the total scholarship plus being paid for training that West Point offers, I recommend that you then go on to read "West Point: Character Leadership Education..." by Norman Thomas Remick to understand the importance of this college that is the best kept secret and the one that everyone has a good chance of getting into.

Average customer rating:

Free $ for College for Dummies
David Rosen , and Caryn Mladen
Manufacturer: For Dummies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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College & Education Costs | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Funding | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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College Guides | Education | Reference | Subjects | Books

All Amazon Upgrade | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

Business & Investing | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

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For Dummies | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

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The College Board Guide to Getting Financial Aid 2007 (College Board Guide to Getting Financial Aid)

ASIN: 0764554670

Book Description

Demystifies the scholarship selection process

Write winning essays and get financial aid

Need money for college? This simple, straightforward guide shows you how to find scholarships, grants, and other "free money" to use toward your college expenses. You get expert advice on applying for federal grants, participating in state tuition plans, competing for scholarships from private organizations, and more - with tips on avoiding scams, completing your applications on time, and finding financial aid from unlikely sources.

The Dummies Way

Explanations in plain English
"Get in, get out" information
Icons and other navigational aids
Tear-out cheat sheet
Top ten lists
A dash of humor and fun

Going Broke by Degree: Why College Costs Too Much

Average customer rating:

Going to Mortgage Your Home to Pay for the Kid's College?
Good Material, Too Technical
A good book, but heavy on statistics.
Bringing accountability to higher education

Going Broke by Degree: Why College Costs Too Much
Richard Vedder
Manufacturer: AEI Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Financial Planning | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

College & Education Costs | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Funding | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

Tuition Rising: Why College Costs So Much, With a new preface
Shakespeare, Einstein, and the Bottom Line: The Marketing of Higher Education
Declining by Degrees: Higher Education at Risk
Remaking The American University: Market-smart And Mission-centered
Our Underachieving Colleges: A Candid Look at How Much Students Learn and Why They Should Be Learning More

ASIN: 0844741973

Book Description

In this book, economist Richard Vedder examines the causes of the college tuition crisis and explores ways to reverse this alarming trend.

Customer Reviews:

Going to Mortgage Your Home to Pay for the Kid's College?.......2006-11-23

I found this book to be groundbreaking. I have not found other books that directly address the subject matter as this book does. It would be a plus if you have an understanding of Economics, but it is not completely necessary. I applaud Richard Vedder for shining light on this subject. I only hope he continues to further explore the subject of rising tuition and declining productivity in higher education. I would like to see proposed solutions too. Well done.

Good Material, Too Technical.......2005-12-27

The market for college tuition suffers from the same problems as that for healthcare - the large impact of third-party payors (eg. government, scholarship discounts makes consumers far more indifferent regarding costs than they otherwise would be. Vedder also should have mentioned that comparing quality has also been difficult in both markets, and that suppliers are rewarded for their errors ("rework" in healthcare, increasing time to graduation due to lack of course availability). Other problems include admitting those unqualified, and high drop-out rates.

One problem with the book is that Vedder concentrates too much on tuition costs. Tuition hikes are a result of both increased costs and shifting funding sources - since the latter is extraneous to any issues of spending, it simply confuses the issue. Vedder's efforts would be more useful if he had instead focused on trends in inflation-adjusted costs/fte.

"Research" is often cited as the reason for increased college tuition - however, Vedder points out that much of it is trivial, and those undertaking it generally receive grants to offset the costs. Regardless, at some point, for example, the additional studies of eg. King Lear garner vanishingly small returns.

Vedder's alternatives to publicly funded (high-costs universities) include private institutions (Vedder cites the University of Phoenix (UofP)- however, subsequent reports have found that the UofP has very high dropout rates and questionable marketing practices), community colleges, company-administered examinations (eg. demonstrations of Oracle or Microsoft expertise), and providing aid to students instead of schools (would hopefully better reward institutions providing better attention to student needs - eg. course offerings, and could encourage graduation by forgiving a portion for those graduating).

It is difficult to make a case that the increased education spending has brought improved college instruction - Graduate Record Exam (GRE) results have declined slightly over the years, the proportion of classes taught by adjunct faculty and teaching assistants has increased, the school year has decreased (Vedder, however, did not indicate how much it has decreased), and the percent of students taking five or more years to graduate has increased.

Trends in spending allocation: Instruction: 39% in '76-'77 - 34% in '99-'00. Research: 18.4%, 22.4%. Total staff/100fte: 18.5% to 20.8%. Faculty/100fte: 7 to 7.6.

Faculty as a PerCent of Staff: 48% in 2 yr. institutions, vs. 28% in 4 yr. ('99-'00)

Teaching loads have declined from about 9 hours/semester at major research universities, 12 at medium-quality state/private, and 15 at somewhat lesser known. This is a MAJOR cost issue, however, and Vedder does not treat it in sufficient detail or with clarity.

Summarizing, "Going Broke by Degree" is an important start, but only a start. The problem is worse than Vedder portrays, and his conclusions do not stress enough the issue of declining productivity. Too much of the book is filled with arcane economic theory that clarifies little. Further, he does not address important side issues - the vast amounts wasted on students admitted without proper preparation or who quickly drop out, and those who graduate but then take jobs that do not require a college degree.

A good book, but heavy on statistics........2005-04-30

Richard Vedder's collection and analysis of information regarding college costs and quality is an excellent exercise of statistical work. If, however, you're not familiar with stats, or just don't like them, you may want to find another book on the subject.

To simply forward Vedder's conclusion, the rising cost and dropping quality of college education is due to, ironically, alumnus donations and government subsidies, and lack of market stimuli (although higher education is protected from these for the sake of improving quality).

Although the use of tables, graphs, and other statistics is very pronounced- sometimes too easy to get lost in- there are occasions when there just isn't the specific number that would tie everything together. There is a point where Vedder is attempting to describe a regression line, and mistakenly describes a kind of logarithmic function, by using a percentage of a variable instead of a percentage of a constant (the constant, even if you notice it's missing there, doesn't appear to be anywhere else). It also seemed to illustrate a very important point, and it's regretable that the point is so hard to grasp.

This example is the worst I could find in the book. Such as it is, Vedder's book is good if you're interested or patient enough regarding the number-crunching; most of it is coherent and makes sense easily enough. His theories rest solidly on the evidence, and his perspective will resonate with those of you who believe the government is too wasteful and/or corrupt to be handling the schooling of the young.

Probably, the best use for this book will be as a source of numbers in debates concerning higher education, as Vedder goes to considerable length to crunch them for the reader.

Bringing accountability to higher education.......2004-07-20

Dr. Vedder's book and insights reaffirm the issue facing both our system of higher education and our state and local governments - how to pay for the growth of our post secondary education system and prepare students to become productive and qualified workers.

With less than 20% of college costs being covered by tutition, on average, in the U.S. and graduation rates at 4 year colleges (over a 6 year period) in the 50% range and at 2 year colleges (over a 3 year period) below 30%, it is hard to see how the public can continue to subsidize a system that fails to acknowledge its obligation to educate students, not build organizations and infrastructures that are uneconomic.

Unfortunately these issues were clearly oulined in 1998 in "Straight Talk About College Costs And Prices", Report Of The National Commission On the Cost Of Higher Education, January 21, 1998.

Where the Commission said:

"This Commission, therefore, finds itself in the discomfiting position of acknowledging that the nation's academic institutions, justly renowned for their ability to analyze practically every other major economic activity in the United States, have not devoted similar analytic attention to their own internal financial structures. Blessed, until recently, with sufficient resources that allowed questions about costs or internal cross-subsidies to be avoided, academic institutions now find themselves confronting hard questions about whether their spending patterns match their priorities and about how to communicate the choices they have made to the public"

Over the next several years this is a topic that will start to show how little our politicans understand about one our country's most prized assets, and also highlight the fact that our university professors and administrators care much more about their own quality of life than that of their proported customer, the students.

Average customer rating:

This book is worth much more than you will pay for!!

FastWeb College Gold: The Step-by-Step Guide to Paying for College

Okay but not outstanding

One of the Best

Great Information

FastWeb College Gold: The Step-by-Step Guide to Paying for College
Mark Kantrowitz , and Doug Hardy
Manufacturer: Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0061129585
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Book 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.

Customer Reviews:

This book is worth much more than you will pay for!!.......2007-04-01

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 :-)

FastWeb College Gold: The Step-by-Step Guide to Paying for College.......2007-01-12

This is an EXCELLENT book for any family that has a child going to college soon. I can not say enough good things about this book. If I could give it more stars I would.

Okay but not outstanding.......2007-01-10

Good information for someone that has not begun the college search but not what I expected for our more indepth searching.

One of the Best.......2006-11-28

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.

Great Information.......2006-10-05

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!

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