Paying for College Without Going Broke, 2011 Edition (College Admissions Guides)

I bought last years' copy of this book after reading an older copy from the library. I wanted my own copy so that I would have access to the most recent calculation process to determine "Expected Family Contribution" (EFC) under the "Institutional Methodology" (IM) and the "Federal Methodology" (FM).

In the current version of this book, though, they have dropped the instructions for calculating EFC under the IM. Instead, the book substitutes some case studies, which are pretty much worthless. Shame on The Princeston Review for caving in to the whims of the College Board. Now somebody else needs to do the work they didn't do to get the IM formulas into the light of day again.

If you're a first timer, you need to read this book, or one like it. But once you've got the basic scheme understood, there's no need to buy the new version of this book every year. If you're an old hand, and you want the most recent FM formulas to calculate your EFC, just go to...Read more

I had high hopes for "Paying for College Without Going Broke" by Kal Chaney. I have a freshman in private university and was rather shocked by the financial aid process as it exists today versus many years ago when I attended college. I read through the book, which is geared more towards parents and students approaching college years. The book does point out some strategies and tactics, but large portions of the book provide step by step instructions for filling out tax and college financial aid applications. This information could be covered by providing tips rather than page after page of instructions for forms. Also, the key punchline to the book, a family's expected contribution towards education is sort of hidden at the end of the book. This critical information could have been presented in a more straightforward manner at the beginning of the book, and discussed in an open and critical manner. It's almost as if the book in some ways contributes to the opaque process of...Read more

I was very disappointed with this latest version (2011) after purchasing the 2007 and 2009 versions. And I agree exactly with another reviewer that the author seems to have lost his mission, capitualting perhaps to the college board. This version has clearly lost it way and that is a shame. I would encourage any buyers to look for slightly older issues and not buy this book.