For middle class and upper middle class families, affording a college education for their children has often become a struggle. They want their children to have the advantages of higher level education, but find it difficult to figure out how to pay for it without college financial aid help. The good news is that there is a fair amount of assistance available for college students, but families need to know where and how to find the best aid package for their circumstances. Many parents are choosing to seek the help of a Financial Aid Counselor. These certified professionals help families find the most college financial aid help possible. They assist them in navigating the sometimes complex system of financial aid and help them identify opportunities that both the parents and student may have overlooked or not known about.  Getting financial aid help is possible, and with the right help going to college to get a degree is still an accessible goal.

One of the areas in which Certified Educational Planners excel, is understanding how to get the most out of the packages that are offered by individual colleges. They can guide students to apply at colleges that have a history of giving large financial aid packages to people who fit their particular profile. They will also guide families in filling out the needed forms, and help them organize their finances to get the most benefits possible. Barry Sysler, President of Academic Directions and Certified Education Planner, says that “Most Certified Education Planners can save family’s much more money than the college financial aid services. Because they get to know individual students and families, consultants can often identify specific avenues for financial aid that colleges may not bring up.” Putting together the best possible financial aid package is crucial to most families. It can mean the difference between their children enjoying college and getting the most out of the experience or being stressed about the amount of money they are taking on in debt.

While it may not be possible to avoid some student loan debt, it is possible to reduce the amount needed by maximizing other types of financial aid. This includes scholarships, grants, and financial aid packages offered by colleges on the basis of merit or need. The options can be confusing to families who have never had to fund a child’s college, and many of these families turn to the expertise of a Certified Educational Planner to help guide them through the process. Otherwise known as Financial Aid Consultants, these professionals help families to identify specific college tuition solutions that reduce the out of pocket expenses of the student. Barry Sysler, a Certified Educational Planner and President of Academic Directions, stated that “Financial Aid Consultants can identify college tuition solutions that most families are not aware of or overlook. This can result in significant savings on college expenses and greatly reduce the need for student loans.”  Families using Certified Financial Aid Consultants can save a great deal of money on their college expenses.

A College Financial Aid Advisor can help students save on college expenses at any time during the process of applying for college, but the best results happen when families start planning well in advance. It is recommended that families start the planning process while their children are in middle school to maximize financial aid benefits. This planning helps a College Financial Aid Advisor to assist families in structuring their finances to get the best aid package possible. It also gives the advisor plenty of time to identify the best programs and strategies for a specific family situation. Many people do not realize that the listed cost of college does not have to be the actual cost of college, and that they may be able to afford the school of their dreams with proper planning.  A College Financial Aid Advisor can help families to identify and take advantage of college funding opportunities that are easy to overlook.

Many an educated person has fallen prey to these insidious college financial aid scams. Here are some things to look for to differentiate the legit financial aid programs from the scams:

• No scholarships or grants charge you money outside of some minimal application fees (rare).
• Excessive financial information such as bank account numbers can be a scam.
• True scholarships and grants don’t give guarantees that you’ll be accepted.
• Received a letter without even applying for it?  Definitely a scam.

Bottom line, protect your personal information especially financial information and trust your instincts.  Also, read their terms and conditions carefully.  Don’t be afraid to research the company or organization offering the program. Make sure that they are part of a legal entity giving away scholarships and grants!

Be sure you are clear on the kind of scholarship you are applying for. Review their rules thoroughly. Be wise and prudent with your search. A word of caution here: Beware of scholarship scams so read the fine print carefully.

Be prepared before you start to apply.

Most scholarship and grant services offer bonus resources and reference materials to provide tips to increase your eligibility and overall positive results in your applications.  Take the time to review these bonus materials. They can also boost your confidence, making the whole process easier.

Consider the Big Picture.

Remember, most students are eligible for more than one form of financial aid.  Be sure to ask that you have been considered for everything possible. Lastly, all student loans are offered through the government/school/financial institution. Read the loan terms and conditions carefully.  Most student loans begin repayment upon graduation but some may have immediate repayment terms.

Barry Sysler, a Certified Educational Planner and President of Academic Directions, recently commented on what the most common stumbling blocks to families’ securing financial aid.  “Most people do not understand the financial aid process. They rule out particular colleges based on cost. Keep in mind, it is not the stated cost of the college that should be of concern to you. Your only concern should be what the college will cost your family. Most families don’t realize that financial aid in the form of need based aid or merit scholarships can discount or reduce the cost of attendance. BUT, you need to file a FAFSA first in order to be eligible for financial aid. Thinking they do not qualify, families simply neglect to file a FAFSA. At Academic Directions, all financial aid forms are completed and filed for the student for each year that they are in college because financial aid is an annual event and family finances can change drastically from one year to another.”

One of the most important things to do when considering hiring a financial aid advisor is to scrutinize their qualifications. Look for a financial aid consultant who is a Certified Educational Planner (CEP), member of the Independent Educational Consultant Association (IEAC), member of National Association for College Admission Consultants (NACAC), member of Higher Education College Admissions (HECA) or who has previously worked in a financial aid office from a college or university.  These credentials have proven to be the strongest when providing advice on the financial aid process.

• Lead and manage the search for the best scholarships and grants
• Assist you in filling out the FAFSA forms and profiles, as well as, writing any financial aid award appeals, when necessary.
• Reduce out-of-pocket expenses for your child’s college
• Support students in making a wise career choice, college search, admission essay service, and admission interview.
• Increase eligibility for financial aid
• Pick colleges with the best financial aid packages
• Guide asset reporting (according to current law) to encourage greater scholarship and grant awards.
• Find money for college even when you do not qualify for need-based aid.
• Provide legal ways to leverage the tax code to maximize financial aid grant.
• Help families avoid costly mistakes that about 95% of applicants make.
• Help your child maximize their chance to obtain financial aid from their first choice school.
• Create strategies for families even if they have not saved a single dime or if they did save but the money they have is just not enough.
• Relieves the burden and stress of planning and processing college financial aid applications and the necessary follow-ups.

This is simple math.  More time = More available scholarships and grants.  It is never too early to begin thinking and researching scholarships according to your background (awards, sports, specialties, etc.) and academic merit that are best suited to your needs.

Search online.

Use websites with a wide variety of search filters such as FastWeb.com.  This company started fifteen years ago and has grown to one of the largest online databases of private scholarships, grants, and loans.  Search regularly, set up search alerts, and also note what keywords yield you the most applicable results.

Use appropriate keywords.

The search engine can provide you a more accurate result for your search with the help of useful keywords related to financial aid. Among the useful terms you can use for your search include scholarships, grants, financial aid, fellowship, trust, student loans, FAFSA, etc.