Intro -- Introduction -- Chapter 1 -- How Much Does Education Cost? -- Increase Your Power -- Making Decisions -- The Independent Student -- Preparation Is Key -- Save, Save, Save -- Should I Get a Job? -- Chapter 2 -- Paper, Paper, Everywhere, Nor Any Drop of Ink -- Look Fantastic on Paper -- CASE STUDY: Debra Lipphardt -- Maintain Your Grades -- SATs & ACTs -- Extracurricular Activities -- Home-Schoolers -- Advanced Placement and CLEP -- Community College Courses -- Chapter 3 -- The Sea of Scholarships -- Academics -- Awards and Honors -- Leadership -- Test Scores -- Extracurricular Activities -- Community Service/Volunteering -- Essay-Based Scholarships -- Financial-Need Scholarships -- Scholarships for Minorities -- Scholarships for Specific Majors -- CASE STUDY: Yvonne Bertovich -- Unique or Unusual Scholarships -- Chapter 4 -- Apply, Apply, Apply! -- The Application Process -- Letters of Recommendation -- The Essay -- The Transcript -- The Interview -- Wrapping It Up -- Chapter 5 -- FAFSA And Grants -- What Is FAFSA? -- How to Apply for FAFSA -- What Are Grants? -- Federal Grants -- Pell Grants -- Academic Competitiveness Grant and National SMART Grants -- Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants -- Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) -- Federal Agency Grants -- State Grants -- Wrapping It Up -- Chapter 6 -- Saving Money & Living Cheap -- Visit Campuses -- Cost -- Calculating the Real Cost -- Public versus Private -- In-State versus Out-of-State -- Location Matters -- CASE STUDY: Kristen Joseph -- Living at Home -- Commuter Blues -- Online Options -- Books -- Chapter 7 -- Work It Out -- Identify Your Resources -- CASE STUDY: Lisa McGinnes -- Work Part-Time -- Cooperative Education -- Paid Internships -- Work Study -- AmeriCorps & National Service -- Reserves, National Guard & R.O.T.C -- Freelancing -- Wrapping It Up.

Chapter 8 -- Loans as a Last Resort -- What is a Student Loan? -- Anatomy of a Student Loan -- How to Get a Student Loan -- Who Gets Government Loans? -- Stafford Loans -- Perkins Loans -- PLUS Loans -- Private Loans -- How Much Can I Borrow? -- Student Loan Forgiveness -- Interest and Payment Plans -- What Plan is Best for You? -- Managing Your Loan Payments -- The Dangers of Not Paying on Time -- Chapter 9 -- Live Dangerously - Graduate Debt-Free! -- The Credit Card Trap -- Scholarship and Aid Scams -- Scholarship Search Scams -- Dropping Courses -- Dropping Out -- Bankruptcy and Default -- Where to Go for Help -- Wrapping It Up -- Conclusion -- Appendices -- Appendix A -- Appendix B -- Appendix C -- Glossary -- Bibliography -- About the Author.