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He's the Financial Aid Guru. Only on Fastweb.
April 22, 2009
Is your financial aid advice featured in The New York Times? Didn’t think so. Mark Kantrowitz, Publisher of Fastweb and FinAid, is nationally recognized as an often quoted leading financial aid expert. With degrees from M.I.T., Carnegie-Mellon and more quotes than Webster’s, he is the financial aid guy’s financial aid guy. Here’s his advice for these tough times.
Kantrowitz strongly encourages families to save 1/3 of the future college costs. He believes that another 1/3 can come from financial aid. And the last 1/3 comes in the form of future income from your student loans. Everyone should open a 529 Savings Plan—they’re the best.
Kantrowitz also advises families on how to save. “Try to make the saving automatic, such as setting up a monthly transfer from your bank account to the savings plan,” says Kantrowitz.
“Always borrow federal loans first. Federal loans are cheaper, more available, and have better repayment terms than private student loans,” states Kantrowitz. The subsidized Stafford and Perkins loans are for families that demonstrate financial need.
However, the unsubsidized Stafford and PLUS loans are for everyone, even those that are wealthy.
Financial aid is confusing. That’s why Fastweb users rely on Mark Kantrowitz and his regular articles on the Financial Aid Channel. If you want to get the financial aid scoop before CNN, look for it here on the new Fastweb.
Find Scholarships Now!
Financial aid goes over-the-head of any average person, but luckily, Mark Kantrowitz gets it. Check out more advice from the Guru:
- A Dozen Tips on Paying for College in a Down Economy
- Solutions for Borrowers Who Can’t Make the Payments
- Obama Bills Contain Big Boost in Student Aid Funding
- Ask the Expert: Why Not Borrow from My 401K for My Daughter’s College Tuition?

jones123peter
4 months ago
There are two schools that I am looking at (one I've been accepted to, one not yet as I haven't applied). However, my family and I are having difficulty affording either one. I'm on Scholarship Points, but the odds are pretty slim, I know, of winning anything.
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davidvilla
10 months ago
Best part of this article is "Try to make the saving automatic, such as setting up a monthly transfer from your bank account to the savings plan,"
Regards
Davidvilla Consultant dubai real estate
boringname
about 1 year ago
I like shopping online.Recently,I have bought a yankees hats in a shopping net.It really very good.They provide high quality and large-variety new era caps ,red bull hats,dc shoes hats, 5950 hats and so on.And they serviced considerate.If you are a hats lover like me,you can try it . Just make purchases without scrupulosity,I believe you will not regret.
boringname
about 1 year ago
I like shopping online.Recently,I have bought a yankees hats in a shopping net.It really very good.They provide high quality and large-variety new era caps ,red bull hats,dc shoes hats, 5950 hats and so on.And they serviced considerate.If you are a hats lover like me,you can try it . Just make purchases without scrupulosity,I believe you will not regret.
Sussib
over 1 year ago
Love this financial aid guru.
Clarisonic Opal
jose1111
over 1 year ago
Kantrowitz is the financial guru
@TimothyEBrown : you get disable but keep the good way your are still helping your son because you looking information for his financial aid, your mind is open about it keep strong to winamax for him . He will say you thank you fr all the help you can give him, : money ,advices, articles of fastweb ...
frankkeane
over 1 year ago
This guy Mark Kantrowitz writes useful articles. It is truly a professional. Frank mahjong club.
kwash
over 1 year ago
My son was approved for a federal loan through FASA. How do we get the money to enroll him for
his college courses?
NullN7454
almost 2 years ago
You here it from my file that i were from ethiopa and want finacial aidso i requist you to show how i cam success by this question to you,and thank youi for sending for me such invetation.
Fastweb40346
almost 2 years ago
I need to pursue undergraduate degree bydistance learning at any state university in USA, How to get a financial aid? Can I use FAFSA Form? How
Sagwa
about 2 years ago
I am a young deaf man with extensive experience, while in the developing Country’s, the deaf community l monitor different classes with different subject while l got so many challenges but with all my effort l manage them due to poverty l was then….is some other issue that boosted my speed while trying to swim in the FastWeb: Scholarships, Financial Aid world that is mentoring them this really hope to helps me very much and l cannot regret saying that l wasted my time but l learnt gaining a lot. “I just joined FastWeb program recently-2009, which i took the bold step of dropping out of my university course dream for a career in Economics/Financial. The move paid off because it was at this point that i decided to and get hands-on. I found at and I would like to develop into a highly specialist through exposure to a challenging and dynamic environment in any one, because, i am looking for a new challenge to…..my new life-Education anywhere. I am originally a Kenyan and lived in Kenya. I would love to and decided to look for some simple way to gain requisite experience in the operational environment of a financial &economics institution.
I started my long with FastWeb forwards me by making friends with and for me to learn so fast ,during that particular time it was not that easy as they could teach me how to and next minute it has evaporated which could make me…..at me but l appreciate that the Financial Aid which will to using will also help me a lot as it had….which l could use at my free needs and by that it really would assisted me in the speed of learning the dream, the deaf could also get and with as l could understand their concept almost fingerspell everything that didn’t made me to loose hope l continued putting more effort falling down waking up and start walking again and with all that l manage to learn and to communicate with them by the end of the term l had learn something that l could be proud of $ 5,000 and l believe that if i want to learn more interact with the deaf themselves and they will learn more and very fast
boots2
about 2 years ago
How do I qualify for MORE federal loans, if my EFC comes nowhere near telling the TRUE picture of my finances? We lost all of our savings due to Alzheimer's Disease with my mother and taking care of her. Now we have nothing in savings and barely qualify for $3,000 in Federal Loans? Would it do any good to try telling this to prospective colleges? We are applying for scholarships, but, of course, we won't know the results for several months yet. Is there a way I can get a true picture of what we would qualify for before I accept an admission to colleges, without waiting until May or June? THANK you for your time....concerned parent...
KimS606
about 2 years ago
I am filling out the fasfa for this year. My question is? Do I report all child support received in 2009 even if part of it was for prior years, or just what I should have received for the 2009 child support.
TimothyEBrown
about 2 years ago
The thing is I get disable how can I help my son?
ClaudiaV123
about 2 years ago
My daughter has severe bipolar disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder. She withdrew (medical) from a 4-year college after finishing her 1st semester with a 3.4 gpa because her illnesses worsened. She then did online with the local community college, but couldn't keep pace due to her illness, and she is now on academic probation and out of school. She's on my HMO for medical, and my HMO has declared her medically disabled. (This enables me to keep her on my medical beyond 25 years old).
I saw your reply to Linda C and was wondering if there is any school like Landmark that specializes in education for bipolar, schizophrenic and mild to moderate autistic teens and young adults? My daughter is very bright (her performance IQ is 127), but any type of stress seems to intensify her illness. And, per my undergrad and grad experience, school is nothing but full of stresses for students, even considering the great rewards of education!
Claudia V.