This Audio Book Can Save You More Than $100,000 These days, most people assume you need to pay a boatload of money for a quality college education. As a result, students and their parents are willing to go into years of debt and potentially sabotage their financial futures just to get a fancy name on a diploma. But Zac Bissonnette is walking proof that the assumption is not only false, but dangerous. From his unique double perspective—he’s a personal finance expert (at AOL Money & Finance) AND a current senior at the University of Massachusetts—Zac figured out how too get an outstanding education at a public college, without bankrupting his parents or taking on loans. Armed with his personal knowledge, the latest data, and smart analysis, Zac takes on the sacred cows and conventional wisdom about choosing and financing college. You’ll discover, for instance, that: • Student loans are NOT a necessary evil. Ordinary middle-class families can—and must—find ways to avoid them, even without scholarships. • College “rankings” are useless—designed to sell magazines and generate hype, if you trust one of the major guides when picking a college, you face a potential financial disaster. • The elite graduate programs accept lots of people with nonelite bachelor’s degrees. So do America’s most selective employers. Zac can prove every one of hose bold assertions—and more. He has a simple message for parents: “RELAX! Your kid will be able to get a champagne education on a beer budget!”
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"While I don't agree with everything in this book, particularly the chapter on why large research universities are preferable to small liberal arts colleges, the book provides a different way to look at the college selection process. The author makes sound arguments for why reach schools are overrated and that parents and students should seek to reduce costs."
— Qwerty (4 out of 5 stars)
" I always feel really depressed after reading this book. "
— Dshara, 2/1/2014" Heard about this book on The Dave Ramsey show. It's pretty fascinating. A little bit ahead of the game for me, yes, but good stuff to think about for the future. "
— Kim, 1/30/2014" This book really changed some of my thoughts regarding my children's college education and I really enjoyed it~ "
— Kristi, 1/16/2014" Read this book. It took my blinders off.i hadn't thought about how much I was assuming when it came to paying for college. No more! "
— Briana, 12/27/2013" It never occurred to me you could pay for college without student loans. Isn't that just how it's done? Zac offers many new ideas that break the traditional mold of college. Give it a shot. I bet you'll find something you didn't know. "
— Brian, 10/1/2013" It might be a little to late for this...but "Studies have shown that people who graduate from college with significant debt loads are... less likely to pursue the careers they want." This is definitely something to think about. "
— Veronica, 9/17/2013" this book would have better if it were more concise but it is worth reading to help you question the status quo of student loans. "
— Kristi, 7/30/2013" I actually didn't finish reading before I had to return it to the library but I will probably just go buy myself a copy. "
— Ellen, 11/1/2012" With the exception of the chapter about taking out debt to buy real estate, this book is an absolute must read for any parent. "
— Candice, 6/23/2012" MCL. Good, basic advice about paying for college. "
— Kirsti, 1/13/2012" USA built book. great ideas but but doesnt really look at the current failling economy and increased price of school for post secondary student "
— Katherine, 11/14/2011" I see his point, but I think the author is naive in some aspects. "
— Catherine, 11/3/2011" Excellent!! Please read this book before you send your kid to college. "
— Damon, 9/19/2011" Very good. Goes against the american way of debt. He has very helpful ideas. "
— Chris, 7/12/2011" I like how Zac has a plan for making college affordable. May more of us be able to live it! "
— Maryann, 7/8/2011" Lots of good info here, and I mostly agree with him. "
— Eileen, 2/7/2011
Zac Bissonnette is a personal finance writer and the author of Debt Free-U and How to Be Richer, Smarter, and Better-Looking Than Your Parents. He is the editor at WalletPoP, AOL’s personal finance website; he also blogs for the Daily Beast and has been quoted in numerous other media outlets.
Lloyd James (a.k.a. Sean Pratt) has been a working professional actor in theater, film, television, and voice-overs for more than thirty years. He has narrated over one thousand audiobooks and won numerous Earphones Awards and nominations for the Audie Award and the Voice Arts Award. He holds a BFA degree in acting from Santa Fe University, New Mexico.