Navigate College Planning & Funding with Confidence
Welcome to Rita James Consulting, where we partner with College Funding Solutions to specialize in late-stage college planning. Whether you're a freshman getting ahead or a senior racing the clock, we're here to help you secure the best education at the best price—without compromising your family's financial future.
Meet Rita James: Your College Funding Expert
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Certified College Advisor & Financial Services Veteran
With over 31 years in the financial services industry, Rita James is a Certified College Advisor with The American College Foundation. She understands that funding your children's education is often the biggest financial challenge families face—and it shouldn't jeopardize your retirement dreams.
Rita partners with College Funding Solutions (CFS), a trusted organization founded in 1993 with over 30 years of experience serving tens of thousands of families nationwide. Together, they provide comprehensive support across academic, social, and financial college planning—because all three components are essential for student success.
Rita's passion is simple: helping committed students graduate on time while saving families thousands in unnecessary costs. If you're ready to take college planning seriously, Rita and her team are ready to guide you every step of the way.
The College Success Formula: Academic, Social & Financial
Effective college planning isn't just about getting accepted—it's about thriving academically, fitting in socially, and affording it all financially. When these three pillars work together, students succeed. When even one is missing, the odds shift against you.
Academic Excellence
Strong grades, test scores, and course selection position you as an attractive candidate worthy of institutional investment.
Social Fit
Finding colleges where you belong increases retention, engagement, and ultimately graduation—don't underestimate culture fit.
Financial Strategy
Understanding funding sources, filing correctly, and negotiating aid offers can save tens of thousands of dollars.
The Harsh Reality: Why Most Students Don't Graduate
The Statistics Are Sobering
Over 50% of students who start college never complete their degree. The average bachelor's degree now takes 5½ years to complete, adding enormous costs to families already stretched thin.
The primary culprit? Lack of funding. When money runs out, dreams get deferred. The second and third reasons—changing schools and changing majors—ultimately circle back to funding issues as well, creating a vicious cycle.
But There's Hope
Among the families we work with, over 85% of students graduate, and they do so in approximately 4½ years—a full year faster than the national average.
Imagine the value: significantly increasing your student's chance of graduating and getting them out a year earlier. That's one less year of tuition, room, board, and lost income potential.
We achieve these results through selectivity (working with committed students) and experience (over 30 years serving families nationwide).
Understanding the College Landscape
Before diving into strategies, let's establish three fundamental truths about higher education today. These aren't opinions—they're realities that shape every decision you'll make in the college planning process.
College is Essential
A degree has become almost a prerequisite to compete in today's economy. On average, college graduates earn twice as much over their lifetime compared to those with only a high school diploma.
College is Expensive
You already know this—that's why you're here. Tier-one schools now post sticker prices of $78,000+ annually. Public universities aren't far behind. But here's the secret: you rarely pay the sticker price if you know how to navigate the system.
College is a Business
This is the game-changer most families miss. Colleges compete for desirable students. Financial aid offers can be negotiated. Knowing the behind-the-scenes metrics gives you leverage you never knew existed.
Your Keys to College Success
Start Early and Understand the System College funding operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Being at the front of the line matters enormously. But timing alone isn't enough—you must understand how all the pieces fit together. Career Planning Drives Everything Why do you want to go to college? For most students, it's about careers, income, and security. If that's true for you, then career planning must be part of your college plan. We use personality and aptitude assessments to help identify your interests, abilities, and values early. Build Your College List Strategically You need 6-8 schools that are genuine fits—not just reaches or safeties, but institutions where you'll thrive. Having options is crucial for negotiation. If a college knows they're your only choice, they have zero incentive to offer their best financial package. Look Behind the Curtain We examine metrics most families never consider: yield rates (percentage of admitted students who enroll) and student loan default rates. A low yield rate means a school may be more willing to negotiate. A high default rate can signal problems with job placement or overwhelming debt. Master the FAFSA The Department of Education estimates 75% of FAFSAs contain errors, costing families thousands in potential aid. Filing starts October 1st of senior year. We provide a line-by-line answer key to ensure yours is done correctly and strategically from the start.
Don't rule out private schools based on sticker price alone. These institutions often have more money to give away and can end up costing less than public universities after aid packages are considered.
Where the Money Comes From: Your Funding Roadmap
Understanding funding sources is essential to maximizing your aid. There are two types of money—gift aid (free) and self-help aid (work-study or loans)—and they come from three sources. Here's how to navigate each one strategically.
Government Aid
File the FAFSA starting October 1st of senior year. Even if you think you won't qualify, you must file—it shows colleges you're serious and helps them understand their competition.
After filing, you'll receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) with your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Don't panic over a high EFC; it's not your bill, just a number used in formulas.
College & University Aid
Colleges are the largest source of gift aid. To be attractive, maintain solid grades and test scores—you don't need perfection, but you need competitive numbers.
In spring, you'll receive financial aid award letters. We help you evaluate whether offers are competitive and, critically, coach you on how to appeal for more money. This one step can save thousands.
Private Scholarships
All free money, but only 3% of total funding. Don't spend 80% of your time chasing 3% of the money.
Important caveat: winning private scholarships may cause colleges to reduce your aid package. When this happens to our clients, we appeal and often recover most of that money.
"Even Yale, which claims to only give need-based aid, can be negotiated with. It's all a business—and knowing that changes everything."
Comprehensive Support for Your College Journey
Ready to take control of your college planning and funding? Here's everything included in our comprehensive program, developed over 30 years of experience working with tens of thousands of families nationwide.
Academic & Social Planning
- Customized student profile creation
- Comprehensive college planning report
- SAT & ACT test prep software
- Career planning and guidance
- College search and selection support
- Admissions counseling and campus visit strategy
Financial Strategy & Maximization
- 40-page customized funding analysis report
- Asset repositioning strategies
- FAFSA submission with line-by-line answers
- CSS Profile assistance
- Award letter evaluation and comparison
- Proven appeal strategies and negotiation guidance
This is an invaluable opportunity
This comprehensive program includes unlimited consultation and all the resources we've discussed. You get hands-on guidance backed by over 30 years of proven experience.
Our next step is a complimentary, no-obligation 10-minute private conversation to see if your family is a good fit. This requires student commitment—if you're ready to take college seriously, we're ready to help you succeed.
Remember: College funding is first-come, first-served. Starting early is your biggest advantage. Get to the front of the line—your future self will thank you.