College can be expensive. The average graduating college senior is nearly $30,000 in debt when he or she walks off campus. There is also more financial aid available than ever before, with more than $238 billion distributed in 2012-13. There are a lot of options out there, and if you are not sure how to find the right financial aid for you, this book is your answer. We provide you with information on over 2,200 programs that offer scholarships, internships, or loans to more than 1.7 million students each year. For example, the Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest awards $2,000 to the high school senior with the best duck call in the country. There's also the Van Valkenburg Memorial Scholarship, where you can win $1,000 if you're a descendant by birth or legal adoption of Lambert and Annetje Van Valkenburg. This book will also provide hundreds of innovative ways to cut college costs, including tips on how to earn college credit on an accelerated basis, how to calculate your college budget, how to make use of tuition prepayment plans, how to combine higher education and course-related employment, and how to buy supplies and textbooks for cheap. If you're looking to graduate debt-free, this book has you covered.
