What initially drew me to the College Funding Center was their information about student-athlete recruiting; however, the knowledge that Rob and Gerald can provide extends far beyond athletics. Blythewood High School has hosted numerous workshops including 'How to Plan and Pay for College,' 'Student-Athlete Recruiting,' and 'Financial Aid/FAFSA 101.' The information and materials covered in their workshops exceeds what we, as high school counselors, can provide to parents and students. Not only do they discuss the role of guidance in the college process, but they also teach parents how to effectively pay for college without sacrificing retirement. Rob and Gerald can show parents how to file the FAFSA, but more importantly, they teach parents the importance and relevance of the numbers. I have spoken with numerous parents who have attended the workshops and/or private sessions, and all of them have been extremely pleased with the information and assistance provided to them. The College Funding Center should be a resource used by each and every guidance department in South Carolina.
- Sara Shackelford, College and Career Information Specialist, Blythewood H.S.
The information, materials and assistance that we have received from the College Funding Center of SC have have strengthened how we serve our students and their families here at Spring Valley High School. Their financial aid workshops provide extremely informative, relevant and up-to-date information. Their "How to Pay for College" workshop is a strong addition to the college planning workshops that we provide each year. Their FAFSA workshop accurately and concisely addresses what parents have to know when filing for financial aid. Their "Student Athlete" workshop sets the standard for what student athletes and their parents have to know regarding the NCAA, athletic scholarship issues and marketing student athletes to collegiate coaches. The student-athlete manual that provide is a must have for any student who aspires to play collegiate-level sports.
Although they are very effective in walking parents through the complexities of financial aid, scholarships and athletic elegibility, they never lose sight of the the importance of student academic success as the cornerstone of it all.
Jim Overton
Spring Valley High School
