Financial Aid - Paying for College

Financial Aid and Paying for College: In an ideal world, money wouldn't enter into the process of choosing a college. In reality, of course, college costs and financial aid offered often play a major role in where a student attends school.

College Confidential.com would like EVERY student to be able to attend his or her first choice school - on our site, you'll find helpful articles, Ask The Dean questions and answers, recommended reading, and many more resources to help you cope with the cost of college.

Don't miss our EFC Calculator - a good starting point to determine if you'll be eligible for financial aid.

Articles - Paying for College

• The Financial Aid Conundrum
       The Dooley Uncertainty Principle of College Costs
       Ants vs. Grasshoppers - Are Savers Penalized?
       Five Quick Steps to Prepare for College Financially
  
• Understanding Your Financial Aid Package: Has the College Made Its Best Offer?
• The Money Monster: Paying for College
• Lowering the Cost of Higher Education
• Counting Up the Cost of College

Ask The Dean

What are different kinds of scholarships? This is an area of great confusion for both parents and students. The two key words to keep in mind when thinking about scholarships are merit and need... More

How can we afford college? Our family's income is in the $20-30,000 range. We have two teenagers who will be ready for college soon. We live from paycheck to paycheck. How can we possibly afford a four-year, private college education? More

Check out the complete Ask The Dean - Financial Aid section!

Recommended Reading

The Scholarship Advisor: Hundreds of Thousands of Scholarships Worth More Than $1 Billion, by Chris Vuturo. Our review tells how the author personally received nearly a million dollars in aid, and what this book can do for more typical students.

Paying for College Without Going Broke 2002, by Kalman Chany with Geoff Martz - Here's the book you need to deal with FAFSA frustration. Includes advice on lots of topics, such as single parent families and sticky post-divorce situations. Read our review.

Going Broke By Degree: Why College Costs Too Much, by Richard Vedder. This isn't a guide to avoiding financial ruin while paying for college, but rather an in-depth look at why college costs are so high now and why they continue to grow faster than virtually any other consumer spending category (see review).

Peterson's Sports Scholarships and College Athletic Programs (4th Edition),
Edited by Ron Walker. Every parent fantasizes about their student getting a free ride as a sports star. Our review explains why this is a must-read for families of students with athletic potential, even in "minor" sports.

The Princeton Review Student Athlete's Guide to College, by Hilary Abramson. This is more a guide for students who have been accepted to the college athletic system, says our College Confidential review, but there is also information to help student athletes choose the right school.

Resources

Scholarship Search - Resources and Advice
Sallie Mae Home
College Board - Paying for College