In today"s tough economy, a college degree is more important--and more expensive--than ever before. The Financial Aid Handbook is the definitive, one-stop guide to the college selection and payment process, covering everything from basic timelines and tuition costs to predicting your scholarship award from colleges and taking ownership of student debt after graduation. Families and students will appreciate the straightforward language, engaging explanations, and hundreds of tips to maximize their financial aid--the scholarship funds that come from the colleges themselves. No other book on the market teaches students and parents how to find real, four-year scholarships...and how to land them. The Financial Aid Handbook is the only book families will need to find the right college at the right price. The Financial Aid Handbook includes: The seven biggest myths about paying for collegeThe ultimate guide to federal, state, and private student loansA step-by-step guide to completing the FAFSA and PROFILEHow to predict scholarship dollars with the Merit Aid Profile, or MAPProfiles of selected schools with exceptional merit aidHow to negotiate with the financial aid office.