Comment from Nancy Coolidge, University of California

FastWeb's College Gold is surely the friendliest, most accessible handbook describing the world of financial aid for college. Its practical advice is both authoritative and understandable, and families will find that the book presents the complicated world of paying for college information in an easy-to-find format. I believe FastWeb's College Gold will also be a most welcome expert resource for libraries, guidance counseling offices and college financial aid offices around the country. Because the specifics of college financing can change over time, the book is backed up with a continually updated on-line resource, www.collegegold.com; this and updated editions of the book will continue to serve students, families and college finance professionals for years to come.

For more than a decade, FastWeb's College Gold author Mark Kantrowitz has provided up-to-date, objective, unbiased advice to students, families, counselors, and financial aid professionals seeking to negotiate the labyrinth of college financial aid. His mastery of the subject matter combined with his availability to grapple with the regulatory, ethical, and practical problems of the financial aid process has made him a trusted resource in our community. FastWeb's College Gold is the complete handbook of student financial aid - an invaluable guide for students and their families today and in years to come.

Nancy Coolidge
Coordinator of Student Financial Support
Office of the President
University of California System
June 6, 2006