This post contains affiliate links and I may be compensated a tiny bit if you make a purchase after clicking on the links. The Savor Summer College Scholarship winners thank you!
Understanding and Acquiring College Financial Aid
How to get the most college financial aid is usually #1 on parents’ minds as their students begin exploring higher education options.
(#1 on Amazon found right HERE).
Jodi will be answering your questions about how to get the most financial aid for college and sharing with us her proven strategies and success stories.
Put this important #CampusChat date on your calendar and join us!
Here are the details about the chat:
- What #CampusChat Twitter Chat
- When Wednesday, June 1 (Did you miss the chat? NO WORRIES! I have shared the script below)
- Time 1:00-2:00pm, EST
- Topic Understanding and Acquiring College Financial Aid
- Host Monica Matthews @AidScholarship
- Guest Jodi Okun @JodiOkun
- Sponsor Smart College Visit
Q1 @JodiOkun Tell us about your new book, “Secrets of a Financial Aid Pro” #CampusChat
A1 I wrote a book different from all other books out there in the financial aid land. A book that can be passed on and will be current for a while #CampusChat
A1 The book is split into three sections middle school, high school, college and beyond #CampusChat
A1 Each section in the book has charts, lists and conversations to have with your student #CampusChat
Q2 @JodiOkun How did you get started in the college financial aid industry? #CampusChat
A2 I began taking a financial aid class online at UCLA met the teacher of the class, who was the director at Occidental College #CampusChat
A2 We began to talk about financial aid and helping families and she hired me to work in Oxy’s financial aid office #CampusChat
A2 I also worked at Pitzer College in their financial aid office for a few years too #CampusChat
Q3 @JodiOkun What exactly is “college financial aid”? #CampusChat
A3 It is the ability to apply for money to help pay for college #CampusChat
A3 There are a few types of aid but today we are talking about “need based” aid #CampusChat
A3 If your student is attending college and you need help paying. I highly recommend every student apply for “college financial aid” #CampusChat
Q4 @JodiOkun When should parents start the college financial aid process? #CampusChat
A4 Students and parents need to begin the conversation about the how to pay for college as early as middle school #CampusChat
A4 Talking about what the family can afford and what price of schools the student should keep in mind #CampusChat
A4 The actual application process begins October 1. #CampusChat
Q5 @JodiOkun What is the FAFSA and why is it important? #CampusChat
A5 The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is the gateway application for colleges to be able to award students “need based aid” #CampusChat
A5 There is a formula that the form uses to calculate it the family is eligible #CampusChat
A5 #Tip Families even if you don’t think you will qualify please apply you maybe eligible for other monies #CampusChat
Q6 @JodiOkun Is it really possible to get more financial aid with certain strategies? #CampusChat
A6 Hmmm Families have income and assets they have members of their family and some even have 2 in college #CampusChat
A6 If there are strategies it all boils down families have to prove everything they say on the forms documentation or verification is the formal name #CampusChat
A6 If families use strategies they hear about from others – will they position themselves into loans? #CampusChat

Open to High School Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors! APPLY NOW HERE
Q7 @JodiOkun How can college scholarships help students pay for college? #CampusChat
A7 Families should use all monies they have savings, cash, and scholarships when it comes to paying for college. #CampusChat
A7 If students apply for scholarships and WIN that can help with the bill. It can help pay a portion or more of tuition #CampusChat
A7 Students need to be applying for scholarships all year long to help pay the bill #CampusChat
Q8 @JodiOkun What about using student loans to pay for college? #CampusChat
A8 The conversation needs to happen between parent and student. Do they need a loan to pay for college? #CampusChat
A8 I talk to families about being a responsible borrower. No the terms and remember you must pay them back.
A8 If a family does not want to take out a loan. And they have all the money to pay for college ok. But if they don’t have all the money, what is their next step #CampusChat
Q9 @JodiOkun Thinking about #finaid stresses most parents out. How can you ease their minds? #CampusChat
A9 Use the Net Price Calculator on each college website to find out what your family will be paying #CampusChat
A9 Talk to your kids about what you can afford and make sure they are clear before applying to the very expensive school #CampusChat
A9 Talk to the financial aid office at each college. They are there to help and can answer a lot of questions #CampusChat
Q10 @JodiOkun What are your 3 best tips for parents to get the most financial aid possible? #CampusChat
A10 Start early and use the Net Price Calculator to help understand how much they will need to pay for college #CampusChat
A10 Complete all financial aid applications each college requires and meet all deadlines #CampusChat
A10 Finish the process till the end…complete all verification documents in a timely manner #CampusChat
If you have any questions about how to participate in a Twitter chat, feel free to email me at info@how2winscholarships.com.
Everyone is welcome for College Scholarship Day on #CampusChat, so please join us!
Have you gotten your copy of my 10 Best College Scholarship Tips?
Click HERE and I will send them to you.

Monica Matthews is the author of How to Win College Scholarships. She helped her own son win over $100,000 in college scholarships and now shares her expertise with other parents and their students. She truly has “been there, done that” in regard to helping parents and students navigate the scholarship process.
Her method of helping students in finding college scholarships, writing unique and compelling scholarship essays, creating amazing scholarship application packets, and more have taught desperate parents to help their own students win thousands of scholarship dollars. She teaches them how to apply S.M.A.R.T. with outstanding results.
Monica’s scholarship tips have been featured on many prominent websites, and she has been dubbed the “Go-To” expert on college scholarships.