<p>Does such a consultant even exist?
The school has a financial aid office. They can help with federal aid. But there one is on one’s own re: the private loan world.
Is there a financial aid adviser one can hire?
In general, hiring an expert usually pays off and prevents costly mistakes.
I’m in MA (Boston-area). How would one go about finding one?
Anyone know?</p>
<p>Rags</p>
<p>Typically, your financial aid office is the best resource as they are dealing with the lenders daily and know which ones are good and which ones should be avoided.</p>
<p>Yes, educational consultants with a CCPS(Certified College Planning Specialist) designation, are professionals with comprehensive training and experience who specialize in College Financial Planning. The NICCP(National Institute of Certified College Planners - [National</a> Institute of Certified College Planners](<a href=“http://www.niccp.com%5DNational”>http://www.niccp.com)) is the only professional organization which provides continuing education and certification for those who are practicing holistic family financial advising focusing on the affordability of the college experience. Their approach is a comprehensive examination of taxation, securities, insurance, home ownership and business ownership and formulating strategies to best position the family for financial aid and improved cash flow to pay for college. </p>
<p>These professionals are quite knowledgeable to assist in indentifying and evaluating public and private loan programs which would be most appropriate for the student and the family.</p>
<p>The financial aid offices isn’t always the best place to ask:</p>
<p>Student loan scandal
Is your college getting paid to steer you in the wrong direction?
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | March 28, 2007</p>
<p>Six Massachusetts colleges find themselves embroiled in an unfolding student-loan scandal of unknown scope and consequences. The looming questions right now: are students getting screwed, and will anybody stop it?</p>
<p>New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced last Thursday that he plans to file a lawsuit against Education Finance Partners (EFP), a San Franciscobased lender. According to Cuomo, EFP has been paying as many as 60 schools including Boston University and five others schools in Massachusetts a percentage of all loans the institution steers into EFPs hands.</p>
<p>[The</a> Phoenix > This Just In > Student loan scandal](<a href=“http://thephoenix.com/Boston//News/36432-Student-loan-scandal/]The”>The Phoenix > This Just In > Student loan scandal)</p>
<p>BC, have a little more faith in the Financial Aid Offices. Most offices are very ethical and have the student’s best interests in mind. With all the scandal articles, they are only focused on a few unethical places…amongst the thousands that are ethical. Yes I understand that one bad apple can ruin the bushel, but only if we allow it. I personally know several FAA’s who have fought for years against the type of thing “discovered” by Cuomo. We have been complaining for YEARS about lender abuses and unethical practices by a few unscrupulous agencies. We aren’t all unethical and I resent the implications being made in the media and Congress and this message board that indicate we are. (Yes, I know this sounds intense…as an FAA, it boils me every time I hear something like this because I work extra hard to make sure EVERY decision I make is ethical and always put the student’s best interests ahead of my institution. And I know that most of my colleagues do the same.)</p>
<p>i would probably stay away from school fin. aid offices, because they might not give the kind of help you are looking for – as someone mentioned there are many private fin. aid consultants who can do wonders for getting you significantly more money than you should theoretically get. when my sister was applying to school, we were also in the mass (bos) area and my parents hired someone who did a phenomenal job getting her way more financial aid than she ever should / could have gotten otherwise. i can ask them for his number, so private message me if you’re interested for sure!</p>
<p>i asked my parents to look into it, so for those of you who have been asking, i should have the number to send to you soon enough ;)</p>
<p>Cool! You are awesome, redwing!</p>