College financial planning can be very difficult, so you can't start too early! The time will go by much faster than you think!

If you have lots of questions, you are certainly not alone! To help you get started we have summarized some of our most frequently asked questions on this page. We can help you address these questions and more, so we invite you to contact us now!

High school guidance counselors are highly trained in "guiding" your child through their high school years. They will assist you by meeting with your child a few times their senior year and asking what schools they will be applying to. They will also send out official transcripts for you. College Funding Strategies meets with you and your child as many times as is needed through the entire college search and application process. We are also extremely knowledgeable on the financial aspects of applying to college, how to potentially reduce your EFC and possible pay less for the college that your student is going to attend.

The old saying, "The early bird catches the worm" is very fitting for the college application and financial aid process. The earlier you prepare your family finances for the major expenses that college costs bring the better off you will be and the more opportunity you will have to get scholarships, grants nd financial assistance for college. With college acceptances becoming more and more competitive, the sooner your student knows where he or she will be applying the better.

Financial aid comes from many sources; the government, privately sponsored scholarships, or the colleges and universities themselves are all possibilities. Aid assessments can be need based or associated with other factors (e.g. academics, special skills or affiliations). You need to understand how financial need is assessed to know if you are eligible for typical need based sources, such as aid from the federal government. A number of financial planning strategies can improve your standing for aid and your ability to meet your college finance needs. We can help you navigate this complex process to get the most for you and your student.

Absolutely, and there are plenty of people who that do. Just remember, the whole application and financial aid process is a tough game. You need to know ALL the rules and how to play to get the best results. If you don't, you're out! In other words, you may receive little or no financial aid for your child or you might over look schools that will accept your child, including providing financial incentives for them to attend!

We pride ourselves on the personalized attention we give our clients. The majority of our clients are families in the NY/NJ area. Through our student interviews, parent meetings, essay coaching and extensive follow up on acceptances and aid awards we get to know you and your needs. Our website is another useful resource for you, yet our best feature is the personal interaction and follow up. We welcome families from other areas, yet we still seek to maximize the personal interaction, so contact us to discuss your particular situation.

Sure we can! Just call us. Or check us out in person at one of our local seminars.