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College Planning Strategies

What Families Are Saying About Us

Click here for BBB Business Review Don't take our word for it—see for yourself what our clients and the Better Business Bureau are saying about us! Just remember that each family has a unique situation. Therefore, each family's college plan and financial aid situation will differ, and actual savings will vary.

To set up a private initial consultation to review your own family's opportunities, please contact us.

Testimonial; Student - Nubia


"The workshops CPS offers the summer before senior year really made me comfortable with the college process and prepared me for what was to come. All of their support helped me to make amazing applications by highlighting my strengths, which led to my acceptance into almost all of my schools."

"Financially, I know CPS’s financial aid services were invaluable in alleviating the stress on my parents. Without CPS, I am sure the college process would have been exponentially more difficult, and I would not have been able to enjoy my senior year of high school as much as I did!  As advice to new families, I would encourage them to fully take advantage of all the support and resources CPS has to offer, because the results are amazing."
 
Nubia S.
Student, HS Class '09

Testimonial - Help Beyond Guidance Office


"CPS has given our family peace of mind while preparing our son for college. It has also prepared us financially not only for Michael’s college education but also for the future. We would not be where we are today without the help of CPS. My advice for families would be not to go through it alone. As much as we think we know, there is so much more to learn." 

"The other important issue that I found was our high school guidance office was too busy to give us the kind of college planning help we felt we needed. So having the expertise of CPS was priceless. Thank you!"
 
Lisa & Joe R.
Registered Nurse & Teacher 

Testimonial - Single Parent Hoped This Service Existed


"As a single parent of two teenagers, I was hoping a service like this existed. I often work over 60 hours per week, and organizing paperwork is NOT my forte, to say the least. CPS was actually the third college seminar I explored and I knew 10 minutes into it my search was over. For me it is their all-encompassing approach, including parents, students, family workshop series, helpful, friendly, knowledgeable staff that always returns your calls, and in general, all manner of “hand-holding” through what can be an overwhelming and exhausting experience for most people. CPS patiently explores every fathomable option, and uses their wealth of resources and expertise to guide you through every decision. This has been one of the smartest decisions I’ve made."

Laura M.
Sales

Testimonial - SAT Prep


"My parents paid $1500 for a well-respected "name brand" test preparation course that met at my high school.  After all that money and the time spent in the classroom and at home practicing, my SAT score only increased by 50 points.  Within the first 30 minutes I spent on CPS's online test-prep, I knew this program was superior to the in-person course available at my high school.  It’s personalized yet self-directed, and most importantly, it was fun.  The video answers and tutorials explain how to take on each problem in a way that makes sense and allows me to see where I went wrong.  The wordsmith challenge is my favorite.  I think CPS's on-line SAT course could help anyone reach their goal score."

Laura K.
Education Coordinator

Testimonial - Skills Now and Future


"CPS helped me to perfect my interviewing, essay-writing and resume-building skills. I used these skills in my college search and will use them again when I enter the workforce in a few years. Thanks for helping me out!"
 
Samantha A.
Student, HS Class '09

Testimonial; EFC Reduction


"I hired CPS after my daughter was already a freshman at college. In her sophomore year our advisor was able to uncover several items that actually lowered our Estimated Family Contribution from $17,000 to $5,000! I am thrilled and can confidently recommend this service to friends and family."

Ann O.
Insurance Agent

Testimonial; Student - Essay and Interview


"Student Services at CPS did a very thorough job getting to know me, and then used that information to help me find the colleges and universities—out of thousands—that truly were a good match. The classes they offered, such as Admissions Essay Writing and Interviewing Skills were a huge help. Having them available to help me edit my essays was invaluable, and I was a lot less nervous at an Ivy League College interview after hearing all the advice in the interview class.  It gave me the confidence I needed and was a very positive experience. My advice for anyone starting this process would be to take advantage of EVERYTHING CPS offers. It removed tons of stress—something you have enough of senior year already!"
 
Angela W.
HS Student, Class '09

Testimonial - Relieved Financial Burden Of College


"Peace of Mind! That is what our family received after we became partners with CPS. A partnership is the best way to describe our experience to date. CPS has taken care of all the things we were so nervous and anxious about. We have benefited financially using the strategies they taught us about and feel very confident we will survive the financial burden of paying our son’s college education. The staff has been very professional and courteous. We know they will be there for us and help us to avoid the mistakes so many others in our position have made. Thank you for so many nights of peaceful sleep!"
 
Joseph R.
Teacher

Testimonial; Help With Twins


"The college application and vetting process is daunting enough, but with twins I hardly had enough time to do the visits and the applications. Without the help of CPS, the process would have seemed impossible to complete! Best of all we did not have the worry of the forms being incomplete or incorrect, a situation that would have jeopardized our ability to receive double aid. Thank you to the staff of CPS!"
 
Donna G.
Accountant 

Testimonial; Thanks for helping our grandson


"We are clients of CPS and have been since early 2006. I want to thank all of you for everything you've done for Shaun and also for us. Shaun is VERY happy with his choice of college (Roger Williams University starting Fall '09) and, for that, we are eternally grateful. We never would have survived without your help. Keep up the good work. Your service has been a lifesaver!"

Chris M.
Grandparent

Testimonial; Through Job Loss and Family Crisis


"CPS's staff and financial officers have given confidence to our family and especially to our student in a hard time—family crisis and job lost. As an immigrant to America it is just wonderful to have people like CPS coaching us in this most important decision of our daughter’s life."

Denise D.
Medical Field

Testimonial; Solidify Scholarship


"CPS was able to point out to us that the initial package we were offered from the school had a lot of wiggle room. With just one well-constructed letter we were able to solidify a bona fide four-year offer. This guarantees our family $45,000 more in scholarships than the original."

Larry S.
Carpenter

Testimonial - CPS Gave Me the Edge


"Everyone at CPS is extremely friendly and helpful. Being the first kid my parents are sending to college, I’m very glad I had someone there to help me out. Being with CPS, I think I had the edge over non-CPS clients in the process of applying to college. Thank you!"
 
Jennifer M.
Student, HS Class '09

Testimonial - Saves Parent Nagging


"Without the help of CPS I would have been endlessly harassed by my parents. I was easily able to locate a college that fit my needs and desires. Without CPS I would have been completely sunk!"
 
George Eric O.
Student, HS Class '09

Testimonial; Admission Essay Brainstorm


"I really enjoyed the essay workshop and found it to be very helpful. I had a lot of ideas but wasn’t really sure how to start. The brainstorming process was a huge help. I don’t know how I would have made it without CPS. My advice to other students—try to get as much work done beforehand. Deadlines will come up QUICKLY."
 
Erin B.
Student, HS Class '09

Testimonial - $3900 More In Grants


"Thank you again for all of your assistance in the financial aid application and the appeals process. We are very pleased that they gave my daughter an additional $3900 this year in the form of a grant—FREE MONEY!! Without your help we wouldn’t have had the know-how, and probably not the courage to do it. Yesterday evening we went ahead and sent in our deposit. Next we will probably need your assistance in navigating our way through the loan process. I am beginning to see the finish line."
 
Monique M.
Attorney

Testimonial; Career Exploration


"Thanks for calling the other day about your expanded career/major exploration program...you have put some hope into my life. My son will be at your office on Wednesday evening. Thanks again!"

Maryanne B.
Respiratory Therapist

Testimonial; CPS Service Rocks


"This note is way overdue. I’m writing to say that the staff at CPS rocks. Throughout the application process and beyond they have always been there to take my calls, allay my fears, fix my mistakes and they have always done it with patience and a smile. (I know we work over the phone, but I can see their smile anyway)."

Denise D.
Designer

Testimonial; RE Financial Aid Officer


"When speaking with the financial aid office from one of the schools my daughter applied to, they offered that we did not have to hire a service to help us plan for college or help us complete the financial forms—that it was a simple process. I was a little surprised and told him I feel quite the opposite. I have the good fortune to be married to a great man who is also a human calculator. However, we made a calculation error on the FAFSA and Profile forms when putting our son through college which we believe cost us financial aid. We did not want to make that mistake again. Just navigating the whole process has been overwhelming for us! We are quite satisfied with the service we have received from all of the staff at College Planning Strategies, LLC. I feel confident that we will be able to successfully provide a quality college education to our two daughters with your help without making ourselves destitute."

Sunil and Kathy D.
Entertainers

Testimonial; Stress & Hand-Holding


"The past year has been trying. Thank goodness for Murray and his extremely patient and competent staff. I know we never would have been able to complete the financial aid forms as precisely without the help of College Planning Strategies, LLC. Additionally, as the letters came in from colleges, CPS was there to hold our hand and help decipher our options. I am especially grateful to our account manager. Without her faith and kindness we never would have made it through our daughter's senior year."

Tom and Margaret L.
Painting Contractor & Massage Therapist
College Planning Strategies, LLC
Phone: (800) 863-9440

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