what we do

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We help families navigate the college search process in ways to save thousands of dollars and give you peace of mind.  We do this by working with families to assure that your student finds and gets into a great college that is an academic, social and financial fit. Families hire us for two reasons: (1) to assist in the search process (“cast a wide net”) and; (2) to save money.  

We offer a personalized approach, with a focus on both the student’s academic and social interests, and the family’s financial issues. Most students will graduate with some debt. Our goal is to minimize that debt so that your student does not have unmanageable debt upon graduation.

Here is a more detailed description of what we do:

· Manage the college search process, assuring that the student finds several colleges that are the right academic, social and financial fit 

 - We start out by understanding your student’s interests and educational goals and objectives. What major does the student think they want? What size school (29 to 55,000), in what part of the country would your student prefer? What are your student’s career plans upon graduation? 

 - Families then fill out our client questionnaire and our student educational and interest questionnaire that will help us understand your student and family’s requirements for a school. 

-  We perform an extensive college search using our database to identify schools that meet those criteria. We will perform this search as many times as needed to find the right “fit” for your student. 

- We work with the family and pare down the list of potential colleges until it becomes the “right” list of schools for the student and family. 

- Using our database, we help families compare the actual college costs for each school before your student applies. 

· Bring a strategy to bear that will maximize the chances that several colleges will compete for your student

- We position your student to receive the most grants and scholarships directly from the college. 

- We review all financial aid offers your student receives to help your family understand what each offer means and how the offers may be used to increase the amount of aid.

- We prepare your family for appeals of the initial financial aid offers.

· Develop a timetable by which the various steps in the search process need to be completed

· Assist with filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year your student is in college  

· Provide ongoing information about the search process through our student “guides” on topics including: 

- What colleges look for in a student 

- Selecting a major and why it’s important 

- Writing a good admissions essay

- What questions to ask when visiting colleges

- How to prepare for the college interview 

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