Financing Graduate School: How to Get the Money You Need for Your Graduate School Education

Patricia McWade's book sets the standard for the topic. I read about this book in another book on applying to grad school, and it has lived up to its name. She breaks the topic down into 6 well organized chapters, with several appendices for special resources (for women, minorities, international students, etc.). The book is very thorough without being tedious or confusing. Perhaps the best thing is how easy it is to find what you're looking for and understand what she's saying - very readable for all ages. I recommend it whether you're already at graduate school or in high school and thinking about the future. The book was published in 1996 and is just as useful today. One big highlight (that I could have used ten years ago): protect your credit. Pay all your bills and pay on time. One thing she makes very clear is how credit affects loans and how important it is to protect your credit (or to appeal mistakes). It's worth a read for that alone, if you knew as little about finances as I did.