Excerpts from an article in U.S. News, September, 2003

NOT WORTH THE PRICE
By Caroline Hsu

“In a hotel ballroom in Plano , Texas , last summer, David Zimmerman took what he thought was a smart step toward financing his daughter Cherie's college education. For a fee of $975, the College Funding Center , which runs financial aid seminars around the country, guaranteed it could get the Richardson , Texas , restaurant manager 100 percent funding for Cherie, then a high school senior. He didn't hesitate to sign up. Now Zimmerman faces a $12,000 tab for Cherie's first year at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches , Texas . And, what about the College Funding Center you ask? It's been no help at all.” The father said “If someone is coming up and offering you 100 funding – boy, I'm not the only one that jumps at something like that.”

This incident recounted in this article is typical of the scams to avoid presented by profit making business organizations. All the information that these organizations obtain is free and is available on web sites or through contact with universities. There is a list of internet sources on the ANS Web site that will provide most of the information that you will need to help your son or daughter apply for financial aid.

The best advice is to start researching avenues for financial aid during the student's junior year and apply as early as possible. Remember: First come is first served in almost all requests for financial aid.