The Financial Aid Handbook: Getting the Education You Want for the Price You Can Afford

by Carol Stack, Ruth Vedvik

Overview

In today-s tough economy, a college degree is more important-and more expensive-than ever before. The Financial Aid Handbook is the definitive, one-stop guide to the college selection and payment process, covering everything from basic timelines and tuition costs to predicting your scholarship award from colleges and taking ownership of student debt after graduation.
Families and students will appreciate the straightforward language, engaging explanations, and hundreds of tips to maximize their financial aid-the scholarship funds that come from the colleges themselves. No other book on the market teaches students and parents how to find real, four-year scholarships . . . and how to land them. The Financial Aid Handbook is the only book families will need to find the right college at the right price.
The Financial Aid Handbook includes:
"• The seven biggest myths about paying for college;
"• The ultimate guide to federal, state, and private student loans;
"• A step-by-step guide to completing the FAFSA and PROFILE;
"• How to predict scholarship dollars with the Merit Aid Profile, or MAP;
"• Profiles of selected schools with exceptional merit aid;
"• How to negotiate with the financial aid office.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781601636607
Publisher:	The Career Press, Inc.
Publication date:	04/01/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Carol Stack is the former Director of Admissions at Macalester College and Augsburg College. For the past 15 years, Stack has worked as a principal at Hardwick-Day, an enrollment consulting firm that works with the admissions and financial aid offices of private colleges and universities. Through Hardwick-Day, she has consulted on financial aid policy at dozens of colleges, including Whittier, Grinnell, Mills, Randolph-Macon, and Xavier University.

Ruth Vedvik has held the position of Director of Admissions at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Ball State University, and Agnes Scott College. For the past 9 years, Vedvik has worked as a principal at Hardwick-Day, an enrollment consulting firm that works with the admissions and financial aid offices of private colleges and universities. Through Hardwick-Day, she has consulted on financial aid policy at dozens of colleges, including Whittier, Grinnell, Mills, Randolph-Macon, and Xavier University.

Table of Contents

Preface for Parents 11

Introduction 13

Chapter 1 The Seven Biggest Myths About Paying for College 19

Chapter 2 The Basics 37

Chapter 3 Let's Talk About Debt 63

Chapter 4 You, Your Parents, and Their Money 85

Chapter 5 For Parents: You, Your Children, and Your Money 101

Chapter 6 Merit Aid and the MAP 125

Chapter 7 The Cost-Based College Search 143

Chapter 8 Everything You Need to Know Before You Hand in Your Paperwork 153

Chapter 9 Merit Aid and the Application 171

Chapter 10 Making the Choice: An Apples-to-Apples Comparison 189

Chapter 11 An Intentional Alternative Plan 203

Chapter 12 What's in a Name? Understanding Ratings and Rankings 207

Chapter 13 What Color Is Your Passport? Advice for International Students 213

The Financial Aid Handbook's Best Bets List: Selected Colleges and Universities That Meet Their Mission and Fund Their Favorites 221

Notes 277

Index 279

About the Authors 285