The response was overwhelming. Dad wasn’t part of the so-called education establishment. He was just a parent, telling the truth. His no-nonsense advice ruffled some academic feathers but no one disputed its accuracy. Our family and friends pitched in and filled book orders, while Dad went to work digging for more information.

Since then, my father has passed away, and we have expanded our stable of books to include information on college admission, freshman survival, and career exploration. But we still pride ourselves on dispensing unbiased, upfront advice, and after nearly 30 years, we still receive hundreds of letters, calls—and now e-mails—each month, from students and parents who thank us for our candor.

Over the years, we have tried hard to keep our perspective, and our sense of humor, while helping families make sense of the college planning process. Twenty-five years ago, we were the only ones publishing this kind of information. Now, it seems that "experts" are everywhere! So, thank you—counselors, librarians, admission and financial aid advisors, financial planners, parents and students—for trusting us and sticking with us. I’ve gotten to know many of you personally over the years, and together, we have kept Octameron true to its original mission—giving families the inside word on financial aid.

Many thanks,