The O.M.G. Official Money Guide for College Students should be required reading for high school seniors and their parents. In fact, it should be required reading for high schoolers in their junior year.

College bound students will be facing major financial decisions for the first time. High educational debt has become a news item in the past years, and the O.M.G. provides the prospective borrower with the basic tools to understand the decisions—large and small—that will determine how much will need to be paid back on graduation.

The book offers a series of short chapters on a variety of subjects from money saving tips to definitions of financial aid terms. It begins with familiar expenses such as toothpaste and event tickets that lead up to a monthly budget. It then adds in a few special "Can I afford that?" expenses such as a semester abroad and a car before going into sources of finance, e.g. loans and term-time work. Interestingly, the O.M.G. guide cautions against too much work that cuts into study time.

The O.M.G. Official Money Guide for College Students addresses loans head on, but without a judgmental tone. Loans can be good if they are the only way to pay tuition, but the student should be aware of the prospect of debt payments for the next 10-20 years. The guide does, however, caution against borrowing for luxuries.

Is the guide the final word? Probably not. But it is an excellent starting point because something more comprehensive might end up in the recycle bin, unread. Is it a good starting point? Certainly. It covers most of the bases in a way that gives the student full responsibility and control. It is up to the student to decide how to proceed. Should they stick with public colleges nearby? Would a monthly budget be helpful? Read by students and parents, it could—and should— be the beginning of an important dialog.