Need College Funding?

How do they do it?

Have you ever wondered why some middle and higher income families are able to pay close to nothing for college education? We know the process. Understanding the financial aid system and how to present your student and family information is the key to receiving financial aid. Many families have been told that they make too much money to get financial help for school and yet nothing could be further from the truth.

Through effective strategies and techniques, thousands of families learn how to send their student to their school of choice. Through the "power of working together" we can show you how to have a better outcome.

What about my counselor or the college financial aid office?

Our high school has a "financial aid night" where representatives from colleges and universities show us how to file the financial aid forms. Isn’t this an accurate way to get the most aid?

The answer is an emphatic NO! The U.S. Department of Education office of Student Financial Assistance warns, "Don’t rely on the school’s representative for all your information-you may be talking to a counselor who is paid for every student enrolled."

Keep in mind, the schools job is to get parents and students to pay the most money for school and it is not their job to teach us how to get "FREE MONEY" that most schools have available. Endowment funds have been given to the college to help students like you complete their education in hopes that one day you will give back to help others.

Techniques like "early decision" are designed to get us to make a commitment before we even know what the school will do financially and are an effort to keep the seats full with students paying as close to full price as possible. College is Big Business and you need to know the business of getting into the right college for you and getting the funding you deserve.

Avoid mistakes that can cost you thousands when there are ways to get a quality education at public, private and out of state schools often for less than your local or community college. Let us be your advocate in the process to give you the edge.

Can I really get more money?

Most families can double or even triple their eligibility for financial aid if they just follow the little known strategies available. We are not talking about "private" scholarship searches or lists. These sources deliver less than 1% of the average funding needed for college. In the U.S. Department of Education publication Looking for Student Aid the department states "Don’t be fooled by the claim that millions of dollars of student aid go unclaimed every year. The large figures you may hear or read about usually represent an estimated national total of employee benefits or member benefits." Scholarships from private sources can complement other things you do but be very cautious about spending too much time on private scholarships. Local service clubs and community groups often offer the best opportunities.

Grades, test scores, achievements and career goals earn scholarships and students and parents who understand the process are the ones who get the most funding.

I don't think I can afford to attend my college of choice.

We meet thousands of students each year that feel they cannot attend college because of the costs. Do you know which public or private colleges will invest the most in your education? Billions of dollars are in the endowment funds of colleges and universities who use the funding to attract the students they want.

We know which schools will provide the best financial package with more FREE money and fewer loans! Why spend your time applying to schools that will not help you when there are plenty of schools that will. Join thousands of parents and students who have learned how "The Power of Working Together" can make your college and career preparation dreams come true.

When should I start this process?

Just like a good Certified Public Accountant can minimize tax liability by knowing the system, we can show you how to set up your financial situation in a way that is most favorable. Don’t wait until the last minute and end up with loans or, even worse, going to the WRONG school because you think that is all you can afford. Start as early as possible because time is your greatest ally in this process. Our "promise of value" provides the financial and time incentives needed to prepare for the very best outcome. On the other hand, it's NEVER too late to do the right things to enhance your education opportunities.

Does this really work?

Here is what our members say . . .

"We received over $19,000 as a result of our participation in the CIRCLE OF NEIGHBORS program. I had been told we make too much money to qualify for help. . . NOT SO."

Jennifer W. - Lewiston, ID

"I thought our high school counselor would help us through the financial aid maze. Unfortunately, too many students and not enough time is what he faced. The Power of Working Together guide and TOLL FREE HOTLINE taught us step by step what we could do to supplement what he could do to help us. Working together worked best for us."

William K. - Denver, CO

"With my older son Jason, who was already in college, I had to borrow from my 401K to pay in-state college costs. Since we joined the program, we got Katie into the private school she wanted, and got money for Jason we should have received in the first place. As a single parent, I really appreciate the time and efforts of the CIRCLE OF NEIGHBORS staff. We couldn’t have done it without them."

Donna P. - Waco, TX

"The FAFSA (Free Application For Federal Student Aid) form was a nightmare. They sent it back to us four times and we were ready to give up. The FAFSA completion guide got us PELL GRANT money that opened the door to many choices of colleges for my students. We got our value from that one service alone. Our family contribution went from over $10,000 per year to less than $2,000!"

David L., CLU - Omaha, NE

"I’ve had dozens of clients call on me to complete their financial aid forms each year. I usually suggest the school help them. After seeing what they did for our student Kent, I realize that a college cannot be as objective as a family really needs. I now refer my clients to CIRCLE OF NEIGHBORS so they can find out what strategies will lower their EFC (Expected Family Contribution). I wish I would have known about this program years ago."

Jose G., CPA - Albuquerque, NM

"Our oldest daughter, Michelle, was told by her school we would do fine on our own financially, because she was a 4.0 GPA student. Five years and $27,600 in student loan debt later, we will not make the same mistakes with our next three students. Our family membership to CIRCLE OF NEIGHBORS has put our younger student years ahead of her peers, as we know how much this process really requires. Don’t wait, like we did, to learn the hard way. It’s never too early to prepare for one of the most important parental responsibilities."

Cindy and Bill M. – Bellevue, WA

"As a Real Estate Broker, I would never consider recommending the major purchase of a home without professional advice. College education for our family will cost more than our home. We can’t afford to take chances with these important choices when it means our children’s future. To avoid these chances, we counsel with CIRCLE OF NEIGHBORS "

Dennis T., CRB - Phoenix, AZ