Product Description”I’m a 21 year old student at a large public university. What do I know? Maybe I’m just rationalizing the fact that I’m attending a so-so public college! You’d have to be out of your mind to take my word for anything! But what you should do is look at the data and draw your own conclusions. I will show you the results of some little-known studies that are likely to change the way you think about paying for college forever. . . I’ll offer guidance and practical tips . . . More >>
Zac Bissonette has a revolutionary idea here — It’s nothing short of a new way of looking at college education as a value-driven purchase. He forces parents to examine whether they are really doing right by their kids to laden themselves with debt. He’s totally on the money when he says college financial aid officers aren’t there to help you — they exist to sell you loans so you can pay for their salaries. Bissonette is changing the way America sees college. We are emerging from this recession as a nation schooled in living within our means. College educations are part of that equation. Great book for everyone with a child — even ones in pre-school. Debt-Free U: How I Paid for an Outstanding College Education Without Loans, Scholarships, orMooching off My Parents
Rating: 5 / 5
I just heard on CNN that college debt passed credit card debt. That statistic alone should make anyone who will be paying for a college education read this compelling book. Zac tells it like it is and challenges a lot of conventional wisdom along the way. He is wise beyond his years and I expect we’ll be hearing a great deal more from him in the future.
Rating: 5 / 5
This is an excellent book. I cannot recommend enough that all parents with pre-college children read this book and use the valuable information provided to take ownership of the college decision process together as a family by considering what this book has to say.
I am a CPA and a financial planner in the Boston, MA area. I see exactly what Zac describes with many families whose financial plans are dominated by education financing at the expense of other goals. I’m blown away by a 22-year old college student being able to accurately identify all of these issues, cut through all the BS spewed by the higher education and college financing industries, and support his assertions and analysis with compelling facts, data and research. I would urge anyone reading this book to not hold Zac’s age against his analysis. His analysis is spot-on accurate. In fact, his age is useful for lending credibility to the anecdotes he does mention in the book about campus life and his experiences. He knows what he’s talking about because he’s living it.
For years, I’ve struggled with the question of whether you need to attend an expensive college to get a quality college education. It didn’t seem right to me, but I didn’t have the information to assess this one way or the other. As Zac clearly shows, there are huge industries with tons of money at stake to make people believe that an expensive college is a must for your child’s education. As Louis Brandeis said, “sunshine is the best disinfectant”. This is one book that is the sunshine that exposes these industries for what they are.
Being in Massachusetts, I would feel very comfortable guiding my children to a Massachusetts public college armed with the information that Zac provides. I would know that I am giving my child every opportunity to have a terrific college experience and a wonderful opportunity for a successful and fulfilling life. UMass should be extremely proud of having Zac as a recent graduate.
Rating: 5 / 5
Debt-Free U: How I Paid for an Outstanding College Education Without Loans, Scholarships, orMooching off My Parents
The author reveals many ways to get a top flight education without getting yourself and your parents needlessly in debt. He backs up his assertions with hard facts, data, and research. For over-priced universities, it is an “Emperor has no clothes” moment. Highly recommended.
Rating: 5 / 5
Wow, I couldn’t put the book down, with every page I could see all the ways to save money. This book is worth its weight in gold. Words cannot describe what this book has down for me, I really feel I have an insider in college and it has greatly reduced my stress of having my first child go off to college next year. This book contains more than finacial tips, it covers every aspect of college, from course tips to professor information, I can’t say enough, you definately won’t be dissapointed.
It was a fun read and will share with other college bound students. I have five teens and if I can do this anybody can. take care enjoy the journey. Debbie
PS I wrote this at 6a getting five kids off to school please excuse the typos.
Rating: 5 / 5