How to Hack College: Cut Costs in Half & Build a Foundation for Lifelong Success

THE #1 BOOK FOR SAVING TIME AND MONEY WHILE EARNING A COLLEGE EDUCATION. 

Top 5 Things You'll Learn

1. Choose the Right College and Major for You

Decide if college is right for you, and pick the best school and major to achieve your long-term goals.

2. Boost Your Chances of Getting Accepted Into a Top College

Step-by-step guidance for building strong college applications and writing standout essays.

3. Learn How to Pay for College the Smart Way

Get a clear plan for navigating financial aid, grants, student loans, and winning scholarships so you know exactly how to pay for your education with less stress and confusion.

4. Manage Your Time, Energy, and Focus

Habits and systems you can use to balance school, work, and life with less stress and more success.

5. Learn Transformational Life & Financial Skills

Gain essential real-world skills-become a positive member of society, create lasting friendships, manage your finances, live a healthy life, and develop personal discipline.

Who It's For:

• High school students and families navigating the college process
• College students who want to save money, time, and frustration
• Educators, counselors, and schools looking to boost student outcomes
• Anyone considering college who wants to maximize their success

About The Authors

We're Marshall Boen and Marcus Lo-two friends who spent the past five years relentlessly researching, testing, and perfecting the most powerful strategies to help students graduate faster, cut college costs, and build real-world skills. We wrote this book to give you the playbook we wish we had when we started college. Marshall overcame learning disabilities to earn his degree from the University of Tampa in just two years, while working part-time and training for two grueling 140.6-mile Ironman triathlons. Marcus lost both of his parents at a young age and turned to academics, entrepreneurship, and wrestling to find strength. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from USC in just four years, on a full scholarship.

When Marshall Boen started college, his goal was to save as much time and money as possible. He had a crazy idea to make that happen. He would try to graduate in half the time, two years instead of four, and at half the cost. His peers and teachers thought it was impossible. Some even laughed. After all, they had a point: He wasn't special. He was just an eighteen-year-old kid with learning disabilities, autism, and an average IQ. Throughout school, Marshall struggled with math, writing, and foreign languages. He worked hard to compensate for his shortcomings and graduated with honors from Stevenson in Pebble Beach, California. In the fall of 2020, Marshall started college with no transfer credits. While taking twenty-seven college credits most semesters, he worked part-time in his family's real estate business, trained twenty-plus hours weekly for triathlons, and finished two 140.6-mile Ironman races. Two years later, in spring 2022, Marshall became the fastest graduate in the University of Tampa's history, earning a Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship with a 3.98 overall GPA. Today, Marshall manages his family's real estate holdings, competes in ultra-endurance athletic events, and co-builds businesses with long-time friend and business partner Marcus Lo. The two met in high school and bonded over a shared passion for entrepreneurship and financial literacy. As friends and business partners, Marshall and Marcus do three things: 1. Teach young people the essential life skills they need to succeed. 2. Help successful individuals grow their wealth for generations to come. 3. Work with business owners to help them reach their biggest goals.

Marcus Lo grew up in Pebble Beach, California, and faced profound challenges early in life. One of his earliest memories was losing his mother to cervical cancer at just four years old. His father, a dedicated dermatologist, raised him while managing a demanding medical career. Marcus spent countless hours in his father's clinic, inspired by his commitment to patients and passion for his work. In Marcus's family, as in many Asian households, achievement wasn't just encouraged-it was expected. But everything changed when his father was diagnosed with stage-four prostate cancer. After a five-year battle, Marcus lost his father as well, forcing him to navigate his teenage years without either parent. This dark and defining period pushed him to mature quickly. With no external expectations, he began to define success on his own terms and discovered his true passions: entrepreneurship and wrestling. Both pursuits demanded resilience, strategy, and mental toughness-qualities Marcus embraced to rebuild his life. At Carmel High School in California, Marcus seized every opportunity. He led student organizations, completed dual enrollment and AP courses, took college classes over the summer, and helped fellow students secure scholarships. His efforts earned him a full scholarship to the University of Southern California (USC), where he used his high school credits to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Science in Finance in just four years-two years ahead of the typical path. Today, Marcus partners with a wide range of companies as a management consultant and enjoys traveling the world.