Financial Aid Consulting

Beginning college is an exciting time in a young person’s life. However, the transition also brings about much anxiety and uncertainty about one’s finances, and understandably so. Students and their families may begin to wonder how they will cover the rising costs of higher education, and how to gain access to the necessary resources. The answer to both questions lies in completing the FAFSA. This application upon submission gives you access to a myriad of financing options, from government loans to grants.

Understanding and completing all necessary information can be a daunting task all the same. From a young student’s perspective, documents including tax information and family income data often look as if they are written in a foreign language. This becomes even truer if you happen to be a first generation college student in your family, as the process is new for everyone. To ease the burden and to clarify the requirements of applying for financial aid, financial aid consulting is available. Financial aid consulting covers a wide range of areas, including: an in-depth explanation of the FAFSA, application filing, and scholarship guidance. For a more detailed list, take a look at what our financial aid consultants can do for you.

From a young age we are taught to get the most from everything we do, and financial aid is no exception. Seeking a consultant for application filing purposes, or to increase your personal understanding of the aid process ensures not only greater accuracy on your FAFSA application, but also that you get consideration for any and every possible aid you are eligible for.

Specific Inquiries for your Financial Aid Consultant:

• Given the information they have about you, ask for recommendations of scholarship opportunities.
• If there is a certain scholarship you would like to apply for, mention it. Whether it is familiar to the consultant or not, they will likely provide as much general application advice as possible.
• Find out how university type (public or private) and tuition rates affect your financial aid award.
• Clarify what paperwork is necessary. While the FAFSA is the primary application for everyone, you may also be required by your school to submit financial aid supplements.
• If it is something you are interested in, ask if you are eligible to participate in a Work Study program. This is based on your financial need indicated on the FAFSA. It is a great way to build professional experience in school and receive financial assistance in the process.
• No question is too small. Consider asking about the “little” things such as estimated costs for textbooks. Significant savings are available on third party websites and there are also scholarships specifically designed to cover textbook costs via stipend.