College-Debate

Scholarship books are definitely one of our most boring groups of publications. They read like research papers, listing page after page of available grants. Enough to put most clever applicants right to sleep.

Way, way outside the box is Ben Kaplan’s “How to Go to College Almost for Free,” published originally in 2002 and now out in a second edition. And what a fresh breath of air this book is!

What Makes this Book Outstanding?

Ben Kaplan was intent on getting a college education. The income level of his family plus a possible tennis scholarship would allow him to attend colleges he had no desire to attend. The top universities he had set his heart on were way, way out of his grasp. But Ben Kaplan is one inventive, ambitious young man! In his junior year in high school, he set out to learn the ins and outs of not only the availability of scholarships but also the ways to win as many of them as he could. With his love of investigative reporting, Ben not only talked to previous scholarship winners, whenever possible he read the parts of their applications that were available to the public.

And, after succeeding to win close to $90,000 in scholarships, Ben wrote what he learned and what worked in a book that should be read by any student looking for scholarship money for higher education. In my opinion, the sooner the student reads the book and starts applying the principles, the better. Middle school is a good time to start.

This Book is Comprehensive

The sections show how comprehensive the book is:

Part I: How the Game Is Played (includes not only solid information but also action steps)
Part II: Getting Ready to Play (scholarship searching, including action steps to find the right scholarships for you)
Part III: Strategies That Give You the Edge (finding your theme, strategizing for position and content)
Part IV: When the Whistle Blows (developing a game play, writing a winning essay, the secrets of good letters of recommendation, the paperwork, and the interview_
Part V: When the Buzzer Sounds (ways to cut costs and also to keep track of your earnings to make sure all disbursement and reporting rules are followed)

Review

Starting with his own frustration about the inadequate sources of information about scholarships, Ben Kaplan dug in. He used the web, scholarship winners, scholarship committees (when available), and, I would guess, “how to” job interview techniques, to flesh out the entire world of scholarships and financial aid. How much did grades count? What else was needed to win? Personal development? Extra-curricular activities? Personality? How to interact with the interview committee? Letters of recommendation?

Through trial and error and some investigative ingenuity, Ben Kaplan became the “scholarship guru” he was unable to find. After winning his first scholarship, he began refining, researching some more, applying again, revising his technique based on his results and those with other scholarship applicants and winners he interviewed.

This guy is without a doubt the go-to guy for information about the college money game. He even covers how to decide which scholarships are right for you, which extra-curricular activities will match the kind of scholarship wanted, and even how to dress for and act in an interview.

There is more detail in this book on writing a winning essay that some high school students will learn in four years of high-school English. The techniques are that good. And, if you think asking someone for a letter of recommendation is all it takes, guess again. Kaplan explains how to get the right wording from the right person to accompany multiple applications.

And he does not leave it at that. Once a winner (or still in the process), he explains how students can use the Advanced Placement (AP) Program’s annual exams annual tests to get credit for college courses while still in high school, By passing an equivalent exam in, say, Spanish, calculus, government and many more subjects, students can received a maximum of one year’s worth of college credit. That alone reduces the cost of college by 25%. Similarly, the College-Level Examination Program is available to students who have not taken Advance Placement or honors courses or whose expertise is not covered by the AP tests. CLEP is particularly relevant for home-schooled students and those who have learned college-course content outside the regular school system. Examples are introductory business law, accounting, and marketing.

The most telling example of how few students learn about and apply for scholarships might be that, as a book reviewer, I was one of the few who had checked this book out of my local community college library!

He appendices and index are also very well done so pay attention to them as well.