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" Here&amp;#039;s what to do if your child starts school in: Two years  Start spending some cash, so you look sufficiently needy when colleges begin examining your records. If you have to repair the roof or buy a new car, for example, doing it now will reduce your monetary assets and improve your chances for aid. It&amp;#039;s also smart to prepay summer camps or vacations, and even federal taxes. After you&amp;#039;ve paid for big necessities, set aside a painfully large amount of money every month. Even if you only save for two years, you can make a dent in first-year costs. If your kids have a shot at financial aid, don&amp;#039;t save money in their names. You&amp;#039;ll be expected to spend a much higher percentage of their assets than your own.  One year or less Government-subsidized student loans are the best deal because they have the lowest interest rates and easiest repayment schedules. Still have a tuition gap? Two options:  PLUS Loans (formerly known as Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students). This federal loan program lets parents borrow up to the total cost each year (after financial aid and other grants are subtracted). It&amp;#039;s probably the cheapest option for families with good credit. The interest rates are low, and some lenders will allow you to defer repayment until after graduation. Shop around for loans. A good place to compare lenders and rates is FinAid.org. You can also get tips from financial aid officers at colleges. But be sure to ask a lot of questions: There&amp;#039;s a nationwide investigation into shady practices at schools. For example, some aid officers were receiving financial kickbacks when they recommended certain lenders.   Want more information about paying for your kid&amp;#039;s education? Check out Send Your Kid to College Without Going Broke for tips and strategies. Also, don&amp;#039;t miss our list of 5 Overlooked Sources for College for additional funding options. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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