Free $ For College For Dummies [Paperback]

David Rosen (Author), Caryn Mladen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2003

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

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

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

About the Author

David Rosen is a management consultant, writer, and teacher.

Caryn Mladen is a consultant, writer, educator, and lawyer.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (June 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764554670
• ISBN-13: 978-0764554674
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #445,751 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Get help with education cost, October 4, 2009

By 

Larry Battle - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Free $ For College For Dummies (Paperback)

David Rosen and Caryn Mladen, the authors, cover every route for paying for college: Scholarships, grants, low interest or interest-free loans, tuition discounts, and other stuff. With that said, I found half useful and the other half irrelevant and repetitive.
This book gives good tips on what payment plans do and don't work. Like how working during college to pay your expenses is a bad idea.
They also talk about scams, joining the military, athletic scholarships, and other means of reducing your tuition.
The best part of the book is how they help you discover what makes you unique and how to use that to win grants, scholarships, and discounted tuition.
After reading this Dummies book, I can now assist my friends and myself with getting free/discounted tuition.

Here are a few good tips provided in the book:
- Some states have early deadlines, so completing your FAFSA as soon as possible is a must. Most states funds require your FAFSA to be completed.
- No scholarships are guaranteed, so don't pay money to get a scholarship or for someone to find it for you because most likely it is a scam.
- Apply to many small scholarship because they have low competition, helps you winner bigger ones, and they can add up quite nicely.
- When applying to scholarship, presentation is the key. Attach a cover letter, print on high quality paper and contact the scholarship committee's office after your submission.
- College is a business, so you can negotiate a deal on your tuition. However finish college early because the price will keep on rising.
- You can get your student loans forgiven by working for a low income school for 3-5 years.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Information!, August 2, 2008

By 

TKerk922 "Kerky922" (Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Free $ For College For Dummies (Paperback)

I originally borrowed this book from my local library but after reading through it a bit, I knew I had to have it! The information is good and easy to understand. I recommend it for anyone seriously looking into alternative ways of paying for college or just understanding what is going on around them.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars dissappointing, September 27, 2011

By 

Book worm - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Free $ For College For Dummies (Paperback)

I expected a mix of some basic information and new sources or ideas, but there was really nothing new here. This might be a good resource for someone who has never been exposed to any facet of financing a college education or someone who wants to go into a field for which the education can be free, but you won't find anything too useful if you've already made your plans, or taken out loans, completed a FAFSA and researched on-line unless you just need a review or the process.