About the Author

       
     Jill F. VonGruben


Jill F. VonGruben, M.A., is the author of College Countdown: The Parent’s and Student’s Survival Kit for the College

 Admissions Process. VonGruben is the parent of two post-college students. It was through her experiences with her children that quickly

 brought her to the realization that there was not a quick and easy guide to help a family through the process. Thus, the idea for College

 Countdown was born, first self-published as Taming the Paper Monster: The College Game (And It Starts in 8th Grade!). "College Countdown"

 was realized from not only her family’s experiences, but from interviews with hundreds of parents and college admissions representatives.

VonGruben has spent over 25 years in an advocacy role in gifted education. For the last twenty years, she has specialized in the area of high school academics. She served on the Board for the St. Louis Association of Gifted Education, the founding Board of the Parent Advocates for Gifted Education, as middle school and high school liaisons, and was instrumental in founding the PTO for Rockwood School District’s Center for Creative Learning.

VonGruben is also Vice President of Job Serious, a national company interfacing between prospective employees and businesses.

VonGruben lives in the St. Louis, Missouri area with her husband. When she is not writing or speaking about College Countdown, VonGruben enjoys reading, computers and gardening. Learning to play golf is in progress.