Paying for College

by Chany, Kalman A.; Martz, Geoff; Princeton Review

• ISBN13: 9780375752117
• ISBN10: 0375752110
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-10-01
• Publisher: Princeton Review

Summary

Everything you need to know to minimize the costs of college Plan ahead to improve your chances of receiving financial aid Calculate your aid eligibility before you apply to colleges Complete the 1999-2000 financial aid forms (including FAFSA and the CSS PROFILE) Negotiate with the financial aid office Take advantage of the new tax law Handle special circumstances if you're a single parent or an independent student

Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS	v	(4)
INTRODUCTION College is big business and an uneducated consumer is its best customer	ix
PART ONE UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS	1	(10)
CHAPTER 1 Overview Paying for college in a nutshell	3	(8)
PART TWO HOW TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE PROCESS	11	(118)
CHAPTER 2 Long-Term Strategies for Paying for College	15	(20)
CHAPTER 3 Short-Term Strategies for Receiving More Financial Aid	35	(64)
Financial aid and your income tax return--Joined at the hip
Income
Expenses
Assets and liabilities
Student assets and liabilities
CHAPTER 4 How to Pick Colleges The financial safety school	99	(10)
CHAPTER 5 What the Student Can Do The better your child's grades, the more they'll want her	109	(6)
CHAPTER 6 State Aid Making the differences in the state aid formula work for you Listing of state addresses	115	(10)
CHAPTER 7 Looking for a Financial Aid Consulting Service Why your accountant will say he is willing to do the forms and why you shouldn't let him	125	(4)
PART THREE FILLING OUT THE STANDARDIZED FORMS Line-by-line instructions for the most commonly used need analysis forms	129	(52)
PART FOUR THE OFFER Comparing offers, the different types of aid in detail, understanding your FAO, bargaining, applying for next year	181	(74)
CHAPTER 8 Innovative Payment Options Some of the novel ways parents are paying for college	203	(8)
CHAPTER 9 Special Topics	211	(22)
Divorced or Separated Parents
Transfer Students and Graduate Students
The College's Special Needs--Geniuses, Minorities, Athletes, and Legacies
Running Your Own Business or Farm
The Recently Unemployed Worker
Independent Students
Establishing Residency in a State
Early Decision, Early Action, Early Notification, Early Read
Aid for the Older Student
International Students
Foreign Tax Return
Study Abroad
To the Professional
CHAPTER 10 Managing Your Debt	233	(8)
CHAPTER 11 Less Taxing Matters	241	(10)
CHAPTER 12 Future Trends	251	(4)
PART FIVE WORKSHEETS AND FORMS	255	(26)
SAMPLE FORMS	281	(16)
GLOSSARY	297	(6)
ABOUT THE AUTHORS	303