"The game" -- Let the games begin -- pt. 1. How the game is played -- ch. 1. The big, bad world of financial aid -- ch. 2. Rules of the merit money game -- ch. 3. What parents can do to help -- pt. 2. Getting ready to play -- ch. 4. Finding your own pot of gold -- pt. 3. Strategies that give you the edge -- ch. 5. Painting your own portrait -- ch. 6. Positioning strategies -- ch. 7. Content strategies -- pt. 4. When the whistle blows -- ch. 8. A winning game plan -- ch. 9. Essay excellence -- ch. 10. Glowing recommendation letters -- ch. 11. Filling in the blanks -- ch. 12. Acing the interview -- pt. 5. When the buzzer sounds -- ch. 13. Parting shots -- appendix A. Scholarship coach search profile worksheet -- appendix B. State agency contacts -- appendix C. ScholarshipCoach.com keyword master list -- Index.