8 Steps to Paying Less for College: A Crash Course in Scholarships, Grants, and Financial Aid

by The Princeton Review

Overview

FINANCIAL AID MADE EASY! This concise, easy-to-follow guide breaks the confusing college financial aid process down into 8 simple steps to help you afford your education.

Alas, not everybody started saving for college when their kid was in diapers. But there’s still hope—and help! This friendly guide distills the confusing financial aid process into 8 clear, actionable steps you can take RIGHT NOW to help afford college.

The underlying message is simple: Parents and students who understand how to apply for financial aid get more financial aid. Armed with the checklists, timelines, and info in this book, you’ll be able to:

• Figure out what colleges actually cost
• Understand grants, loans, work-study, and other forms of aid
• Get to know the FAFSA® and CSS Profile(TM)
• Research scholarship opportunities
• Quickly compare financial aid offers from different schools
• Find creative ways to lighten your debt load

Note: This book is designed to be a quick primer covering the most useful core finanicial aid information. For students and parents looking for comprehensive, A-Z guidance—including long-term strategies and step-by-step help on the forms—check out Paying for College, The Princeton Review's classic and definitive guide to the A-to-Zs of financial aid.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780525568001
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	01/15/2019
Series:	College Admissions Guides: Finance
Pages:	176
Sales rank:	668,995
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

The experts at The Princeton Review have been helping students, parents, and educators achieve the best results at every stage of the education process since 1981. The Princeton Review has helped millions succeed on standardized tests, and also provides expert advice and instruction to help parents, teachers, students, and schools navigate the complexities of school admissions. They offer classroom courses in 41 states and 21 countries, online and school-based courses, and one-to-one and small group tutoring.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Step 1 Learn How Financial Aid Really Works 11

Step 2 Sticker Shock 33

Step 3 Craft Your College List 47

Step 4 Apply for Financial Aid No Matter What 63

Step 5 Find and Apply for Grants and Scholarships 85

Step 6 Decode Your Financial Aid Offer 101

Step 7 Be Realistic About Debt 119

Step 8 Funding Your Future 139

Index 157

Notes 163