Secrets of a Financial Aid Pro: Master the College Funding Process and Give Your Child Lifelong Financial Skills without Losing Your Cool

Okun, a former college financial-aid counselor and independent consultant, offers an insider’s perspective on the complex and often confusing workings of the financial-aid system. Not surprisingly, she states, many fear that they have too much money to qualify for financial aid, or not enough to be able to afford college at all. Add to that worry a tricky system where simple mistakes can derail academic dreams, and you have the perfect recipe for stress. Okun seeks to demystify the process and share her expertise. Her approach is threefold, starting with the precollege years, from middle school through high school, looking at what to do and when to do it. She then explores the application process and different kinds of aid, including grants and scholarships. She also includes work-study options and other ways to lower costs. Lastly, she examines cost-management skills for college students and graduates. Along the way, she shares tips and talking points, imparting easily extractable and useful kernels of knowledge. Offering concerned parents an insider’s expert guidance, Okun provides an invaluable tool for navigating the treacherous financial aid landscape. (BookLife)