The College Project: A Financial Aid Guide for the Class of 2017

High school students, teachers, and parents: this is the ultimate financial aid guide. The College Project doesn't merely tell students what to do to afford college -- it guides them in creating their own personalized, actionable plan.

Specific to the needs of California students graduating high school in 2017, The College Project brings together the best financial aid resources, key statistics, and engaging stories to help any student access college.

The College Project guides students through the following:

• Costs and benefits of earning a college degree
• Majors and future careers
• Colleges most likely to meet the needs of their students
• Each student's personal, estimated cost of attendance
• Different types of financial aid (grants, scholarships, loans)
• Key financial aid documents (FAFSA, CSS Profile, CA Dream Act Application)

High School Teachers:

The College Project supports the development of college and career-ready students. It is aligned with Common Core Standards for ELA and Mathematics. Each chapter contains essential questions and assignments you can assign to help students build personalized college portfolios to help them in their journey after high school. The College Project is set up to use as a supplemental text or interdisciplinary project.

For a variety of electronic student resources (including access to the e-book and a custom senior year Google calendar), a free teacher's guide and e-rubric, please visit www.collegeprojectonline.com.

Tyler Hensley is passionate about helping students understand how they can afford college, especially those who don't think it's possible.Tyler graduated from USC with a bachelor's degree in Business Management: Corporate Finance. He went on to work in private wealth management for UBS Financial Services in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills.In 2009, Tyler resigned to learn more about himself and the world, choosing to volunteer as a teacher on a small island called Kosrae, Micronesia. During this adventure, Tyler discovered a passion for being a guide and a resource for students in need. Since he began teaching, Tyler has been an advocate for teaching personal finance -- something every student needs, yet rarely receives.Over the past 7 years, Tyler has continued to grow as an educator. He earned his California Teaching Credential and Masters in Education: Digital Teaching and Learning from Azusa Pacific University in 2011. Tyler has also completed extensive financial literacy professional development with the Wharton School of Business, and is currently a Hollyhock Fellow at Stanford University.Tyler lives with his wife and son in Irvine, CA.