Jennifer Cook-DeRosa’s new book, “Completely FREE Colleges”

This is not so much a review but rather some comments on Jennifer Cook-DeRosa’s just-published book, “Completely FREE Colleges” (the upper-case ‘FREE’ is the official title).

Jennifer, a valuable contributor to this forum, has put in a huge amount of time reviewing tens of thousands of school websites, and other sources, seeking out institutions with free tuition. As she makes clear early on, “free tuition” does not necessarily mean a free degree. In most cases, there is still a charge for room, board, textbooks, travel, etc. For instance, Webb Institute, with free tuition in two programs, still requires over $14,000 a year for room and board.

The “Free Tuition for Everyone” section is disappointingly small. Not Jennifer’s fault, of course, but a reflection of the way the world is. There are eleven schools listed, none with distance learning: the five military academies, three Christian schools, and three very small programs, such as Deep Springs College, with a dozen highly-competitive places available.

It is in the other nine chapters that useful information and good leads are found, based on various demographic, financial, or geographic factors:
• Geography: where a student lives or went to high school (e.g., graduates of Rusk High School, Texas)
• Family income. Pell Grants are a good option, along with a dozen or so highly-competitive schools, that accept fewer than 10% of applicants.
• Military: programs for current and former military personnel
• High school students: taking ‘advanced placement’ courses while still in high school.
• Seniors: courses, and a few degree programs, for senior citizens.
• Non-US Schools: universities in other countries: a few dozen, in Europe and South America, but none has distance learning, and all require paying for housing.
• School employees and their families
• Job-related: trade associations, unions, and employer programs for employees and their families.

One does not come to this book expecting to find dozens of opportunities relevant to ones situation. But there is very likely something (or things) for almost everyone, or at least some good leads, good advice, and directions to turn. As my mother-in-law used to say, “There is a lid for every pot.”

Think of it as finding a skilled and friendly consultant who has already done a great deal of research in the field, and is willing to share it all with you for a ‘consulting fee’ of less than $20: that’s the cost of the book on Amazon, including postage. Thank you so much for doing this, Jennifer.

 

Thanks for the non-review Dr. Bear. It sounds like a very useful guide. Congratulations Jennifer and I hope you sell a skagillion copies.

 

Just ordered mine. It should take approx two weeks for it to arrive here in Nicaragua. :shocked:
I want mine signed :damnit:

Congratulations!!

 

Dr. Bear,

Wow. I am truly honored that you read my book! And those who know you are a man of integrity certainly know your review wasn't prompted by me! Thank you, it means a lot!

For those who don't have or want to spend $16 + shipping, I have a Facebook page "Completely FREE Colleges" where I share schools, excerpts, etc. daily. Eventually, it will all find its way there.

EDIT: I wanted to say that I was also a little disappointed there weren't more distance learning options. Of course in my military chapter that was a requirement, so those schools are DL, but for the average student your DL options would be limited. One thing to emphasize, in chapter 2 (Geography) if a state provides 100% tuition waivers, you can use that at a college that provides distance learning, you just have to look it up and get creative. Same with dual enrollment (chapter 6) - you just have to choose classes that also happen to be DL options.

 

Thanks for let me know about this new book. Wish all the best for Jennifer.

 

I just want to know there is a way to order online?

 

Yay, Cook!

 

You can find it at amazon.

 

Congratulations, Jennifer!

 

No Kindle version?

 

No, not right now. I decided against it based on my TERRIBLE experience with putting my first book on Kindle.

For whatever reason, there is not enough computer-type-safety in the Kindle software because it was pirated immediately by foreign "buyers" of the book. Amazon basicly says they try to keep it safe, but that they can't promise it, and they're sorry. <gee thanks> Amazon is also a little tricky, because when you sign up for Kindle, you enter into an exclusivity agreement. Anyway....I wouldn't have noticed except for all of these strange purchases (foreign) and then returns the next day. A lot- like 20 books bought -sold- returned in 48 hours. To give you context, I won't sell 20 Kindle copies in a year. I pulled it, but then eventually I just decided to put it back on there. My goal is to share information, and I don't have the savvy or brain space to worry about chasing a few dollars. When that book gets updated, probably next year, I won't choose the Kindle option.

FWIW, it amazes me that this goes on to the extent that it does. While I waited for Completely FREE Colleges to go live, I created a Facebook page. Immediately, like within a few days, I had 30, 40, 50 fans from other countries asking for my website. ?? I didn't solicit fans, I didn't buy any marketing, these are just people that find you. I eventually added the link to amazon (paperback only) and these fans vanished. LOL

 

"Count your Fingers" Sachdev

When I first considered selling Bear's Guide online, my daughter, editor at a large publisher, said that within 24 hours, I would receive an order from the man known in the trade as "Count Your Fingers" Sachdev (that is the advice on what you must do after you shake hands with him), and within a month there would be a skillful pirated edition on sale in India and elsewhere.

It happened just that way. On advice of copyright counsel, I started listing one totally non-existent school and program in each edition . . . so that when the pirated edition came out, including my made-up school name, they could not claim they had done their own independent research. This was helpful in suppressing two different Korean pirates, but Sachdev just ignored me. What am I going to do -- go to small claims court in Bangaluru?

 

Wow..... that's crazy! Well, I put these projects together as a hobby, but if my living depended on it, I'd be pretty enraged. I'm a mom, I'm not famous, I'm not rich, and I'm not a writer- so for "me" to be a target is laughable really. But, I guess it's dog eat dog out there.

 

Jennifer:

Your book dropped 30 cents in price while it sat in my shopping cart, so I snapped it up. Looking forward to reading it.

 

LOL I have no control over that, it's an Amazon thing- but I am happy you saved 30 cents! :headbang:

(and thank you! You guys -that I deeply respect- reading my little book is kinda like going to a nude beach...)

 

Karma University

My shining moment when I used to create non-existent schools for copyright protection was the year I included Karma University. Its academic model consisted of doing a past life hypnotic regression, and then awarding full credit for all past life experience.

 

I'm not sure I'm worthy of being included in "you guys," but I'm looking forward to reading it. I'll post my impressions--all good, I suspect--as soon as I can.

As for the nude beach....you first. (It's not the laughter I have trouble with...it's the pointing.)