2024 College Financial Aid Costs; What You Need To Know. Recently, we have been receiving feedback from parents who are disappointed in colleges misrepresenting their bottom-line costs. This is also highlighted in a recent story from NPR College financial aid letters mislead and confuse, with real consequences. When searching for financial aid for college, it’s important to be aware that many college websites are posting outdated total costs (including tuition, room and board, and fees) that can date back to previous years. We are also finding financial aid offers may feature an inaccurate co ..read more

I created this CSS Profile: A Comprehensive Guide as a financial aid consultant with over 34 years of experience to help you. I have dedicated my career to helping families navigate the complex world of college financial aid. In this comprehensive guide, I will provide expert insights to help you understand the CSS Profile. My goal is to ensure that your child receives the maximum financial aid possible. What is the CSS Profile? The CSS Profile is a financial aid application required by over 200 colleges and universities in the United States. It collects detailed information about your f ..read more

Navigating Financial Aid at the 20 Most Searched Colleges and Universities. Choosing a college is a significant decision, and understanding the financial aid options available can be just as crucial as selecting a major. With the rising cost of higher education, many students and their families are concerned about affordability. As a financial aid consultant, I’ve noticed a trend in the most searched colleges and universities—an indication of where students hope to invest their futures. Here, we’ll dive into what interest in these schools could mean for students seeking financial aid and how ..read more

These are the top 10 things to consider when applying for college financial aid as a divorced parent and provide insights to help you make informed decisions. Our office gets many questions on college financial aid, FAFSA, and divorced parents advice 2023. As a divorced parent, applying for college financial aid for your child can be a complex and overwhelming process. You may have questions about how your divorce will impact your child’s eligibility for financial aid or concerns about how to navigate the process as a single parent. Understand Custody Arrangements When applying for college f ..read more

Applying for college or graduate school can be one of the most stressful times in your life. The pressure of getting accepted into a good school can be overwhelming, and the process of applying itself can be incredibly time-consuming. But no worries, College Aid Consulting Services is here to offer you some tried-and-true tips for reducing stress during the application process. So, take a deep breath, and let’s dive in! Set Realistic Goals and Expectations It’s important to set realistic goals and expectations for each college or graduate school you’re applying to. You don’t want to ..read more

2023 College Financial Aid Costs; What You Need To Know. Recently we have been receiving feedback from parents that are disappointed in colleges misrepresenting their bottom-line costs. This is also highlighted in a recent story from NPR College financial aid letters mislead and confuse, with real consequences. When searching for financial aid for college, it’s important to be aware that many college websites are posting outdated total costs (including tuition, room and board, and fees) that can date back to previous years. We are also finding financial aid offers may feature an inaccurate co ..read more

Many people that inquire about our Financial Aid advisor services want to know what are the responsibilities of a FAFSA preparer? College Aid Consulting Services are FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) preparer experts who assist individuals and families complete the FAFSA form, which is required for most students to be eligible for financial aid for college. The FAFSA form determines a student’s eligibility for federal grants, loans, and work-study programs. Our responsibilities to complete the FAFSA preparer may include: Meeting with students and families to gather inform ..read more

We have another financial aid success story to share. We started advising this family on the FAFSA and CSS Profile forms for financial aid in the beginning stages of their daughter’s college pursuit. The daughter eventually decided on Brandeis as her main focus since the college showed a sincere interest in her talents and attributes. Because we felt the school was alluding to an offer that was forthcoming, and since we thought that it can be improved, I advised the parent on certain factors and how to communicate with the college in increasing the student’s financial aid consideration for gi ..read more

The 2023-2024 FAFSA® deadlines parents need to know. FAFSA applications started on October 1, 2022. It’s important for students to submit their applications for financial aid as soon as possible. The sooner you file your FAFSA the better your chances of maximizing your financial aid. Important FAFSA Dates to Add to Your Calendar There are three key dates students should circle in their calendars every year: October 1st, June 30th, and September 10th. If you have any questions about school-specific deadlines, you should talk to your financial aid administrator. Academic Year FAFSA Open FAFSA De ..read more

Your favorite student is adding schools after completing FAFSA. What is the best way to add additional colleges and universities after completing the FAFSA for the school? Filling out your FAFSA, especially for the first time, can be a confusing process. Add to that the pressure of picking a college to attend, and you may be so overwhelmed that you fail to include a potential school. In some cases, you may even change your mind altogether and choose to apply to a college altogether. If you need to add a college after submitting the FAFSA, simply log into your FAFSA online and add a new school ..read more