College Funding Service Center — Local services in Waterford

CFSC founder, Al Hoffman, created a wonderful software tool/database, ENGUS, to manage the massive amount of data that one should consider when making a well-researched college list. It was clearly created with the end user in mind, and I’ve never found anything on the market quite like it.

It enabled us to conduct a very thorough nationwide college search, and then narrow down the list to a manageable number of schools to visit over Spring Break of my student’s junior year. By the time we set foot on those 8 campuses, we already knew there was an academic fit and financial fit, so at that point all my daughter had to do was look for the social fit and campus feel.

My daughter is now happily attending a small liberal arts college, taking courses with 10-25 students each, and it will cost us LESS than our in-state flagship would have; a large university where freshman are regularly jammed into courses with 700-1200 students!

A big thank you to everyone on the team for helping us these past few years. We also enjoyed the monthly seminars and to-do lists that helped us stay on track every step of the way. We will be back when it’s time to start our younger child’s college search. I’m actually looking forward to working with the team again. See...

a minute ago NEW We used a SoCal company called Ketterman for our son this year for college prep and contract out FASFA support to Linda, Barbara and Patrick. A team of people spread out all over the country, contact only via phone and email.

Let prospective clients know that they are locked into paying 25% of their income no matter what if they apply to private schools. Patrick told us this at the end, not the beginning, it would have been a game changer.

What we really needed help with was the Fasfa and college board ( they do not help with college board paperwork at all) FYI. Patrick and Linda were very hands off and not helpful. They would not return phone calls or emails, so much so that when we wanted to appeal, Patrick refused to help us. He is arrogant opinionated and out of touch. Don’t waste your money. No support when we...

I have been working with The College Service Center for the last 10 years. As a college planner, their assistance has been invaluable to me and my clients. Directing my clients to the schools where they will be eligible for academic scholarships or need based grants have helped so many to send their child to the college of their choice in an affordable way. Sarah Perkins, my organization's Center representative, is not only knowledgeable, but is very responsive to client questions and needs. She simply makes me look so good. Thank you Sarah And Al Hofman's insights into the details of college planning is second to none. There is no one more knowledgeable in college planning than Al. The whole team is so professional. Can't say enough about them but THANK...