Middle-Income Families and Financial Aid

Guiding middle-income families through the financial aid process is particularly vexing.  That's not to imply it's easier with low- and lower-income families, but in that case there are more programs and places to point them to.  Middle-income families often exist in the "donut hole" of financial aid - making too much to qualify for state or federal grants, but not enough to afford the cost of their child's education.  What can we do to help this group? We are joined by two experts, each uniquely positioned to provide insight. Jim Zielinski, Co-Director of College Counseling at The Prairie School in Racine, Wisconsin brings his experience as a school counselor and his decades of experience as Director of Admissions at a liberal arts college to the discussion.  How he advises families through the process and when he poses the question of, 'whose responsibility is it to pay for your child's education?' are two particularly highlights. Ryan Gebler, Director of Financial Aid at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin adds his own level of insight.  Having worked at multiple private institutions and counseled hundreds if not thousands of students through financial aid systems, he offers a level of information that we all need right now. Filling the donut hole is not easy, but it's a discussion we should collectively continue.