501 Ways for Adult Students to Pay for College: Going Back to School Without Going Broke

by Gen Tanabe, Kelly Tanabe

Aimed squarely at single parents, senior citizens, or adult students who are changing careers or going to college or graduate school, this book examines the issues and challenges unique to adults who want to go back to school despite the pressing responsibilities of families, work, and mortgages. These 501 strategies cover everything from finding and winning scholarships intended especially for adult students, obtaining financial support from employers, and negotiating with colleges for more financial aid to taking advantage of educational tax breaks, benefiting from government-subsidized student loans, and exploring cheaper alternatives to expensive colleges. Twenty inspirational stories of adult students who have used creative ways to pay for their educations are also included.

Genres: Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2004

Reviews

[Jordan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I stole this book from a library patron. Sorry Devan. :(

[mo · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were some decent tips here and there, but nothing revelatory. I can see its value for people completely unsure of where to start, but if you know even the least bit about applying for aid and searching for scholarships, most of this book is just rehashing easily available knowledge and guidance that's already out there. I'm glad I borrowed this from the library, because I would've felt it was a waste of my money if I had purchased it.

[Adrienna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was helpful and beneficial for novice, high school students, to know things I've learned after attending school for six years to obtain two degrees but it's been twenty years since I've looked for finances to pay towards college via grad school .

I skinned thru and#55 is what I went thru first timer in college, 18, and wondering why the financial aid counselor had a meeting with board and I had mom who knew not much to fight to keep my scholarships and or grants, no direct loans so they went after pell grants.

Tax breaks as grad didn't apply for me. I'll read their other books on paying for college

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would be a great place to start if you are headed to college. I was more looking for help in paying down debt after finishing college. It does make me wish I had spent more time looking into scholarships!

[Scarlet · Rating 2 out of 5]

While it's not a particularly bad book, there isn't much new, different, or exciting about it. If you've done ANY research on the topic already, you'd be familiar with most of the suggestions in general, if not specifics.

While I wasn't too concerned about getting 501 techniques and ideas, that 499 would make me mad or something, there were not 501 ways in this book.

Many of the 501 items were repeated throughout the book. I believe Pell Grants were mentioned at least twice as two separate entries.

Also, when suggesting to look at state agencies for assistance, that itself wasn't ONE listing, but each given state was treated as an entry. So since most of us only live in one state, that's 49 worthless entries. Suggestions BY state encompassing individual listings each happened at least twice. So 49 X 2 = 98 out of 501, approx. 20% that is completely useless to almost all readers.

The book is organized well and it is easy to read. And if I have any luck with suggested scholarship sites, I will totally raise my rating, but I can't say I was impressed or really learned anything and was put off by the gimmick of it. Calling it "A Bunch of Ways" would have worked better for me than to make a number up that really doesn't fit. Forcing it so hard makes me less trusting of the rest of the info.

[Elle · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was disappointed in the ways offered to get funding for school; the book would list "FAFSA" and count it as an option along with "Private loans". (I understand these are options, but the way they got to 501 was by counting every little sentence.)I felt the 501 number was inflated, and it didn't have a lot of helpful advice. Items such as "save ahead of time" don't help when you are already enrolled in a program.

[Elusive.Mystery · Rating 1 out of 5]

One would think that I’d have figured out right from the start that there would be no magic revelations in a book that lists an elementary must-do such as filling out a Fafsa, taking some student loans or going into the military as some of its tips...

[Nora Olmo · Rating 2 out of 5]

this is a very complicated and overwhelming book for me. they really need to brake it down even more. There are no resources for adults with disabilities. What about a lot more funds for people that have autism and plus disabilities and handicaps. Come - on….

[Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm back in school and need all the help I can get. This book was helpful.