Financial Aid Scammers Want You!

Don’t be duped! If you are the parent of a high school junior and the looming anxiety of senior year with testing, college applications and financial aid forms has crept into your family, your home, your life, slow down, take a breath and know that you and your student WILL make it through.

This is a time however, where companies that offer services to help you find money for college, complete your FAFSA and/or find scholarships, capitalize on all your fears, worries and insecurities.

There is ample free support for all these processes and the money you would spend is best put toward that college tuition bill.   As two experts in the field of Financial Aid, Carol Stack and Ruth Vedvik in their The Financial Aid Handbook (a highly recommended reference) say, “Anyone who charges you to find scholarships for you is scamming you. They’re taking advantage of your fear, your youth and your parent’s desire to get you into college.”

The same is true of companies that charge to complete your FAFSA. The FAFSA website and phone support are actually very good…they will walk you through the entire process if you have all your documentation together.

It is hard to stay calm in the face of the mounting tide of uncertainties, but your demeanor sets the tone so have confidence in your abilities and reach out for help…the answers are out there.