As a private Educational Consultant or College Planner, especially for those using the CounselMore Educational Services management software, you are a pivotal resource for families navigating the complex path to college. In this article let's acknowledge that it takes a village to pay for the application fees and housing fees, let alone college tuition! So educational consultants are usually advising the whole family navigating the transition to college on many different levels.
We all expect the rule #1 is to mind our professional business and not offer advice unless we are qualified, trained, licensed or insured to do so in any specific area. Each consultant knows their limits. Most often when it comes to money and college tuition families have a financial advisor, tax preparer or otherwise dedicated confidante, who they will share those intimate conversations. The IEC is usually associated with completing the FAFSA correctly but less associated with student loan identification. Unless of course the consultant has these expertise to offer these types of services and trusted advice. (Have we covered our bases?) Surely we all can agree, that when a family asks for resources, we believe that knowledge is power and we share good informational resources.
To that end, below are shared resources you should be aware of as an IEC or private academic advisor working in California. Check your own state government website because every state receives federal money to support college funding. Hence, if you find no resources for your state you have a very important question for your local politicians.
When clients ask about securing financial aid—California’s Cash for College program offers an array of resources designed to simplify the financial aid application process. By leveraging these tools, you can enhance your services and provide invaluable support to your clients.
California’s Cash for College program aims to make higher education more affordable for all California students, offering various grants, scholarships, and financial aid resources. Whether your clients are high school seniors, returning adult learners, or community college students, this program has financial aid options tailored to their needs.
Familiarizing yourself with the following resources will help you guide your clients through the financial aid process efficiently:
Educational Consultants can better support their clients by guiding them toward these valuable support resources:
Help your clients stay proactive with these essential tools:
Ensure your clients are always informed:
The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) has launched “Cali,” an AI chatbot designed to assist students with their financial aid applications. This tool is especially beneficial for students navigating the new “Better FAFSA” application process, which has introduced new complexities.
How Cali Supports Students:
To effectively support your clients, consider these steps:
Consider how CounselMore improves your workflow. Resources like those discussed above can be made available on a pdf with your company brand - the pdf can be used in your Master Folders attached to your CounselMore account. The auto file generating tools in CounselMore software make it easy to create resources and disseminate unique electronic copies to multiple student folders at one time. When thinking about how to manage educational services, its easy to recognize the advantages of CounselMore software tools.
By integrating the resources offered by the Cash for College program, you can provide comprehensive, informed guidance to your clients. These tools will help maximize their financial aid opportunities, making college more accessible and affordable.
For more information, visit the California Cash for College website at
https://linktr.ee/castudentaid. Encourage your clients to explore available workshops, webinars, and support services. And then add resources to your CounselMore account.
Margaret Rothe, MA Higher Education Student Affairs Specialist, is a CounselMore Peer Mentor. She is a practicing educational consultant for All College Pros and Highergrounding counseling services. She lives in the SF Bay Area.
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