Anyone ever heard of Edifi-College Financial Aid Services?

[Blondie]

We received an "invitation" in the mail that says:

Congratulations, you and Anthony are cordially invited to attend a free personal interview in your area in order to help maximize your eligibility to receive financial assistance and minimize your family's out-of-pocket expenses for Anthony's college education.

Anthony has been selected as one of the students in your area eligible to apply for grants, scholarships, tuition discounts, low interest and subsidized loans through our college assistance programs.

If Anthony plans to attend college, please make every effort to attend your personal interview. At your interview, you will also receive an informative free financial aid handbook.

Space is limited, RSVP immediately.

Interview lasts approx. 90 minutes and must be attended by student and at least one parent or legal guardian. There is no cost for the interview or financial information.

On the back is says:

Edifi was founded in 1991 to help students obtain financial aid for college. Edifi currently has clients in all 50 states in the U.S.

Strategic Preparation: The interview also includes important information pertaining to preparation for PSAT, SAT and ACT tests, as well as, educational strategies to better prepare high school students - in particular freshmen and sophmores - applying for college.

Is this a scam or what?

 

[Mattsmom]

Scam We got several of those type "invitations" last year when DS was a HS senior. They will try to sell you their services.

Our school held a free financial aid night for parents to help sort through all the paperwork.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

I agree with Mattsmom. Scam.

I have a daughter that is a freshman in college. During the last year of high school there were all kinds of meetings at the school telling where to look for money. (Can't say we were very successful.) The one thing they did say is that you never have to pay for scholarship information.

We also got these letters and are starting to get them for my son who is a junior in high school. I just throw them away.

 

[grinningghost]

So glad you asked, because we actually went to one of these seminars. They sure do make it sound good. For $800, you'll never have to fill out a single scholarship application and they'll direct you to the best colleges for your child, they'll even fill out the college applications for you - for 4 years!

For people that didn't go to college, DH and I thought it sounded great. We have no idea what we're doing. Luckily, we didn't have the $800 to plunk down immediately and they told us they will send us another invitation this year. I think I'll just rip it up and throw it away.

 

[NHAnn]

I agree with the above posters. Don't waste your time.
The high schools in this area all offer the programs like MattsMom mentioned. And even if yours doesn't, there's a wealth of info online....
check out the "parents" and/or "financing college" sections at these websites...there are others too...
collegeboard.com
petersons.com

The only thing you should be paying for (besides the college app fees when the time comes) are the fees to take SAT or ACT tests. The federal form (FAFSA) stands for FREE Application for Federal Student Aid. Right on the FAFSA materials (just looked at DD's we completed last winter) it says "WARNING! Be wary of organizations that charge a fee to submit your application or to find you money for school. Some are legitimate and somea re scams. Generally any help you pay for you can get for free from your school or the US Dept of Education".

The FAFSA is used to determine the studetn's eligibility for federal grant and loan programs. There is something called the CSS Profile used by many private colleges in determination of their own financial aid (as opposed to federal)...there is a small fee to register with them and then a charge to forward the reports to the schools that require them .

Usually the schools (at least in this area) have listings of scholarships available locally and regionally and the instructions and criteria (need and/or merit). You have to do the leg work to seek these out...but it's free to apply!

Your household is going to be getting a TON more mail now

 

[Blondie]

Thanks for the info, I knew someone here would help!

I think we'll just throw the invite out with the trash! My son has already informed us he's joining the Air Force! Let's see if he is still saying that in the next couple of years!