One of the most difficult times in a high school student's life is trying to decide about the future. A big part of that is money concerns, including how students pay for college when tuition is constantly on the rise. The basics, like the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans, to the more complicated, like seeking out those hard-to-find scholarship options—readers will find all the information they need for a good balance.

The Academic Competitiveness (AC) and National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grants were established by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. The grants provide merit-based financial aid to certain low-income college students eligible for Federal Pell Grants and are administered by the Dept. of Education (DoE). In the first year of implementation, participation was lower than expected. This report determines: (1) factors affecting AC and SMART Grant student participation; (2) challenges colleges face in administering the grant programs; and (3) the extent to which DoE has assisted states and colleges with implementation. Includes recommendations. Charts and tables.

"As world's bestselling author, I frequently want to mandate great books to be read, absorbed, and used effectively. Money Smarts is such a book...Prepare to be deeply inspired and choose to raise yourself higher than you ever imagined" -Mark Victor Hansen, Co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series Inside Of This MONEY SMARTS Book, Here Are A Few Of The Things That You'll Be Learning... -Learn how to read and produce financial statements to effectively understand and utilize income statements and balance sheets for personal financial management and investment reviews. -Learn the Rule of 72 and the power of compound interest. -Learn what are the biggest financial obstacles and how you can overcome them to win financially. -Learn how you can earn more money not by following the herd or following a set traditional path but by simply being true to you and following your passions. With the right Money Smarts, you can make money and wildly succeed doing what you love and are passionate about. -Learn the 4 key ways to making money and how you can create multiples streams of income to design your own financial freedom at any age. -Learn the strategies that will effectively get you started in any dream career and how to rise up to the top of any industry. -Learn how to create business plans and conduct business feasibility studies to effectively get investors and funding for your businesses and startups. -Learn all about the various investments you can invest in such as the various market investments including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and annuities. -Learn about real estate investments and how it creates income and capital gains with tax advantages. -Learn the process for how private businesses become publicly traded businesses that can be worth millions and billions. -Learn how to get scholarships, grants, subsidies, and other benefit incomes that can give you the hand up to get going or get restarted. -Learn how to read your first paycheck and how tax works to minimize your tax while maximizing cash flow and capital gains. -Learn the most effective strategies for saving money on housing, car payments, and the multiple insurance costs including health, auto, property, and life insurance. -Learn how to manage debt payments that not only reduces the payments but also reduce the overall debt. -Learn the different retirement account options and how to take advantage of them when employers offer them- 401(k), Pension Plans, and IRA(s). -Learn how to borrow money effectively to have good debt. Good debt is when the debt works to make you money. Bad debt is when you work for it. -Learn how credit score works and how you can build it, managing it, and how to repair it when necessary. -Learn how mortgages work so you can use it to buy your first home and additional properties as real estate investments. -Learn how auto financing work with strategies that the car dealership wish you rather not know. -Learn how to borrow money for college and even get free money for college so that student loans do not cripple your financial position upon graduation. -Learn how to minimize your tax liability and how to file your taxes so that you don't get in trouble with the IRS. -AND SO MUCH MORE!!! FREE ACCESS TO AUDIOBOOK with every book purchase on Amazon. 2 for price of 1. Visit MoneySmarts.com with the Amazon order number that can be found in your email and then copy that order number on MoneySmarts.com to access your Free Audiobook as My Gift to you there!

Even as having a higher education becomes increasingly essential in the job market, the costs associated with attending a post-secondary institution continue to rise, making the prospect of paying for college seem daunting. By examining and breaking down the various financing and aid options available, this practical volume allows students to accurately assess their financial situations and to develop strategies to finance a college education. Offering tips on how to tackle the FAFSA form and covering the difference between grants and scholarships, the benefits of work-study, and much more, this volume is a valuable resource for anyone interested in pursuing a college degree.

Provides advice on developing wise spending habits and getting a good deal when shopping for clothes, consumer goods, food, medicine, personal care products, and entertainment.

The Internet can be a consumer's friend, but it can also hold dangers. Teens learn how to use the Web and digital tools to their benefit when making purchases, by researching products, comparing prices, and participating safely in online auctions and swaps. In addition, teens learn how to manage finances digitally, through online banking, bill paying, budgeting, and investing. The text explains consumers' legal rights when doing business online, as well as steps to take to protect money and personal information.

In a challenging economy, getting a job is difficult. It is even harder for high school students with little or no work experience. An internship can provide that crucial experience and be the first step on a path to a rewarding career. This helpful guide explores the important role of internships in making career decisions and achieving career success over time. Readers learn about the different types of internships that exist, how to land a great internship, and how to impress an employer while on the job. Readers also learn how to use the internship to enhance their personal and professional growth and to make career choices. A clean, bright design and color photographs increase the book's appeal and highlight important points.

“The College Solution helps readers look beyond over-hyped admission rankings to discover schools that offer a quality education at affordable prices. Taking the guesswork out of saving and finding money for college, this is a practical and insightful must-have guide for every parent!” —Jaye J. Fenderson, Seventeen’s College Columnist and Author, Seventeen’s Guide to Getting into College “This book is a must read in an era of rising tuition and falling admission rates. O’Shaughnessy offers good advice with blessed clarity and brevity.” —Jay Mathews, Washington Post Education Writer and Columnist “I would recommend any parent of a college-bound student read The College Solution.” —Kal Chany, Author, The Princeton Review’s Paying for College Without Going Broke “The College Solution goes beyond other guidebooks in providing an abundance of information about how to afford college, in addition to how to approach the selection process by putting the student first.” —Martha “Marty” O’Connell, Executive Director, Colleges That Change Lives “Lynn O’Shaughnessy always focuses on what’s in the consumer’s best interest, telling families how to save money and avoid making costly mistakes.” —Mark Kantrowitz, Publisher, FinAid.org and Author, FastWeb College Gold “An antidote to the hype and hysteria about getting in and paying for college! O’Shaughnessy has produced an excellent overview that demystifies the college planning process for students and families.” —Barmak Nassirian, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers For millions of families, the college planning experience has become extremely stressful. And, unless your child is an elite student in the academic top 1%, most books on the subject won’t help you. Now, however, there’s a college guide for everyone. In The College Solution, top personal finance journalist Lynn O’Shaughnessy presents an easy-to-use roadmap to finding the right college program (not just the most hyped) and dramatically reducing the cost of college, too. Forget the rankings! Discover what really matters: the quality and value of the programs your child wants and deserves. O’Shaughnessy uncovers “industry secrets” on how colleges actually parcel out financial aid—and how even “average” students can maximize their share. Learn how to send your kids to expensive private schools for virtually the cost of an in-state public college...and how promising students can pay significantly less than the “sticker price” even at the best state universities. No other book offers this much practical guidance on choosing a college...and no other book will save you as much money! • Secrets your school’s guidance counselor doesn’t know yet The surprising ways colleges have changed how they do business • Get every dime of financial aid that’s out there for you Be a “fly on the wall” inside the college financial aid office • U.S. News & World Report: clueless about your child Beyond one-size-fits-all rankings: finding the right program for your teenager • The best bargains in higher education Overlooked academic choices that just might be perfect for you

Choosing an affordable college with the desired programs is difficult but this book can help the entire family navigate college choices and financial aid.