Escape the matrix of student loan debt In his new book, Dave Shutler analyzes twelve faulty assumptions about obtaining a higher education and shows how they can lead to debilitating college debt. Analogizing to the two realities in the Matrix movies, he reveals underlying facts about the assumptions to high schoolers and their parents. These assumptions range from deciding whether to attend college in the first place, to the importance of selecting a major, to how to minimize college living costs. This book is a systematic guide to the many misconceptions that students hold in the college application process. Shutler analyzes each misconception, showing how it can lead to debt, and then provides strategies to escape that debt. Dave Shutler sheds light on scholarships and other significant funding sources that are available for the enterprising student and explores the federal laws that govern student debt. He identifies underlying policy decisions that have contributed to the $1.7 trillion federal debt burden and offers several strategies to help individuals navigate student debt without succumbing to it. ​Through planning, students can take charge of their education and escape the matrix of ever-increasing college costs.