Anybody know anything about Tuition Solutions, Inc.

[Chris Brooks]

Greetings,

Anybody know anything about this company? They do financial aid
counseling and help with the federal aid/need forms. They worth it?
Any insights are welcome.

Chris Brooks

[Jess Allan]

> Anybody know anything about this company? They do financial aid
> counseling and help with the federal aid/need forms. They worth it?
> Any insights are welcome.

I wouldn't trust any financial aid help company further than I could throw
them, to be honest with you. I've found the following:

1. Financial aid forms are not impossible to fill out, and in fact quite
simple, especially if you're working from a tax return (of course, if you
file when you should, you're going to have a bit more trouble), since they
indicate precisely where you would find corresponding information on your
tax return. If you file PROFILE at the same time, it's really simple since
the questions are very similar. In addition, many families have their
accountants do the financial aid forms at the same time as the tax returns
(mid February to mid March).
2. In some high schools, astute guidance counselors can advise you on
financial aid as well as college admissions (and most can), so there is no
need to hire an outside firm.
3. Most of the aid organizations are legitimate, but some are
fly-by-night, and I've even heard of some of those using credit information
(in terms of social security number, assets, etc.) of the people they
conned.

I would never do it, and financial aid counseling is unnecessary unless you
are truly lost, in which case you can probably get some information online
free from us, enough to get you started. There is also help at USNews'
.edu Web site (www.usnews.com), College Board (collegeboard.org) and the
Princeton Review (review.com) so that you will get some idea of the big
picture.

If you must, check with a BBB before starting, to make sure they're
legitimate.

-- J.