Seminar offers advice on college expenses

Charles J. Phillips says he didn't pay for his college education and you shouldn't have to, either.

Phillips, who wrote a book about how he did it, will offer a free seminar Saturday to share tips on how to finance a college degree through scholarships and grants.

A Chesterfield County resident who works as a sales representative for DuPont, Phillips graduated from Prairie View A&M University in Texas in 2002.

He said he earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering without using any personal money or loans.

While in college he kept a journal to remind himself of what he needed to do to apply for scholarships the following year. 4 His mother and aunt persuaded him to transform his notes into a book. He published "College: Why Should You Pay For It? I Didn't" in 2004 and also created a Web site.

Phillips said he decided to hold seminars because he frequently gets questions in June about how to apply for scholarships for the fall semester "and it's too late."

"Now is the time to start thinking about scholarships," he said.

The seminar will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Holiday Inn Select Koger South Conference Center in Chesterfield. His book, which costs $15, will be for sale.

Contact Karin Kapsidelis at (804) 649-6119 or .