College Planning Center Testimonials
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"I found the information very helpful. I met with the former Director at the Warwick center in the Fall and he gave me a timeline of what needed to be done when and what to expect. I went to about 3 presentations at MHS facilitated by CPC and found them all very helpful. We were able to ask questions and received very helpful pamphlets. CPC is a very beneficial service available to families." -Amy, Middletown
"My daughter was a high school senior and was uncertain about which colleges to apply to. We went into your Warwick location with many questions and your staff was extremely helpful. My daughter was very nervous about the application process. She was very nervous about going away to college. The woman who had assisted us had suggested that my daughter apply to any and all 4 year colleges that she was interested in. She said that often times the 4 year schools put together such a great financial aid package that we would be shocked. She also said that my daughter could always go to CCRI - that it was close and very affordable. When we left my daughter was excited. She went home and applied to numerous schools. My daughter was accepted to all of the schools that she had applied to. The University of Rhode Island had put together such a fantastic financial aid package that my daughter is now , I am proud to say, in her second year at URI. I truly feel that this would not be possible if it were not for the woman who had assisted us. Once my daughter was accepted and we saw what a great deal URI had offered her, my daughter told me the reason that she was afraid to apply to some schools was the cost. I honestly believe if it were not for your assistance my daughter would not be attending the University of Rhode Island. I am a single parent and my daughter will be the first college graduate in my entire family. I thank all of you and that very special woman from the bottom of my heart." - Patricia, Warwick
"I first read about the College Planning Center in the newspaper during my sons senior year of high school. The staff we have met with over the past two years have been helpful and made my job of seeking financial aid easy. Thank you for this valuable service." - Barbara, Pawtucket
"If I hadn't gone to the College Planning Center of Rhode Island, I wouldn't have been able to attend college in the fall. I was having trouble securing a loan and getting the money needed to attend the college of my choice and the gentleman I spoke to gave me a tip that helped me get extra federal loans so my need for a private student loan decreased. I had spoken to numerous college planning people elsewhere and no one had given me that tidbit of information that helped me get the money I needed." - Noah, Newport
"The CPCRI is a fantastic free resource. At first, when I saw the appointments were one half hour long, I thought that wasn't much time to get things done, but it is. These people know the answers and move things along quickly and smoothly. It's good to know they are there in case I have a question or need to make an appointment. Plan ahead and get your appointments early, though. They fill up quickly during busy times of the year!" - Beth, Exeter
"This is a tremendous service, and the people I worked with at the Lincoln office have been extremely helpful. The college financial aid application process can be very overwhelming, and this service saves an incredible amount of time and helps ensure you get the aid you qualify for." - Bill, East Greenwich, College Student
"The staff was very friendly, knowledgeable and completed everything in a timely manner. Very pleasant experience, I should have utilized the help of the College Planning Center when my daughter attended Northeastern in a 6 year program....there would have been far fewer headaches!" - Brenda, Cranston
"The College Planning Center is a life saver. Having taken advantage of the center's services for three years and two kids, I can't say enough. I've had the pleasure of dealing with two different advisers and both were extremely experienced and efficient. They alleviated a great deal of the pressure, inherent in the college application process." - Brian D, Mansfield
"Without your help i would have been completely lost. I enjoy my visit instead of dreading it. Thank you as always." - Carleen, Cranston
"Counselors are very helpful and knowledgeable. I don't feel rushed when I am there. I am so glad someone mentioned them to me. I had no idea what they were actually there for until I made my first appointment with them last year. I will use them every year." - Christine, Cranston
"Meeting with CPC was a very helpful experience. Their assistance is completing the FAFSA and CSS forms on-line was a tremendous help and a real time saver. The woman who I met with was excellent. This is a very valuable resource!" - Ted, Bristol
"Knowledge and service every time was exceptional. The absolute best public sector organization I've ever dealt with." - Irene, Johnson
"I felt prepared going to the CPC, and truly loved the one-on-one advice. Solanchi Fernandez made me feel confidant I was doing the right things. Looking forward to my next meeting. I tell everyone about the center." - Mimi, North Kingstown
"The staff at the CPC are extremely knowledgeable and helpful. All my questions were answered fully and professionally. I was given all the time that I needed and I never felt rushed. If you're looking for help with financial planning for college, I strongly recommend that you meet with these people." - Gary, West Warwick
"When I went to a college planning meeting at my daughter's school many parents were talking about how hard it was to complete the FAFSA...they had to spend hours on it. This got me very nervous! My friend told me about the center and I called the next day to schedule an appointment. I was amazed how much help I received at the Bristol center. I wouldn't have been able to complete the form on time. Such a great service. I even told my friends about it." - Joanne, Tiverton
"As a parent of a high school senior, there are so many things on that to-do list: graduation, dues, senior pictures, college applications, acceptance and then the financial aid process. When CPC came to Burrillville High School, I thought that was so thoughtful that they want to help the parents through this process. Now that I am a parent of an almost college sophomore, I can get a grip on my nerves and chill out!! the College Planning Center helped me out and is still helping me out big time. Just being there is relief to me!" - Dana, Harrisville
"We had a very informative meeting with Stacy in Cumberland in regards to our high school junior, and look forward to meeting again in senior year as we make college plans. Stacey was honest, thorough, and informative." - Frank, Lincoln
"This was my first child attending college and the CPC was a great resource in completing the FAFSA and helped me w/any questions that I had. Having the CPC as a free service is incredible and extremely informative!" - Kathy, Coventry
"I felt at ease after leaving the CPC. It was helpful to have someone help me understand the different college requirements, within 1 hour my CSS profile was complete and sent to 5 different colleges." - Monica, North Kingstown
"I probably could have done this by myself if my life depended on it... but I'm much happier and less stressed and feel confident everything was accomplished and I truly appreciate the help....I had a good night sleep last night now that it has been done!!!!! Thank you....thank you...thank you!!!! - Faith, Foster
"The College Planning Center of Rhode Island is a great resource that helps parents help their children get to college. By them coming to the high schools really reaches out to parents to take the anxiety out of the whole college process. They also help with scholarship information that can be applicable to each student and parent. I can not thank you enough." - Dana, Harrisville
"I won't be able to this without the help of CPC." - Edy, West Greenwich
"I had 2 sit-downs with the women of CPC in Bristol. Both were excellent and professional. Thank you on behalf of my daughter." - John, Pawtucket
"I totally recommend CPC and have to my friends. The services I received made a stressful situation less stressful. I never knew these services were available until I attended a meeting at my sons high school and I was so grateful to have the help and to know that it wasn't going to cost me extra. The no cost initially peaked my interest but the services I received won me over. Thank you." - Lisa, Middletown
"The counselor, Erin DeMaggio, who assisted me and my grandson, was most helpful and knowledgeable. She showed a personal interest in my grandson's aid application, and answered all of our questions thoughtfully and patiently." - Richard, Providence
"WONDERFUL! Your Bristol office is a god-send to college stressed parents. wonderful location. Keep up the good work" - Tara, Portsmouth
"I consider myself an educated woman. However, when it came to the college financial information being filled out, I was out of my league. Being overwhelmed with the paper work, worried I would make a mistake, and just anxious about the reality my baby is going to college, I welcomed the help! It was the best thing I did for my daughter and myself - no pain, no mistakes, no stress (except what to pack!)" - Tracey, North Kingstown
"I couldn't have done it without the help of the staff in Bristol. I was so stressed out with work and everything going on and they took care of everything in about 15 minutes with ease... I didn't know where to begin. Thank you so much for being there." - Parent, Rehobeth
"I have been going to you since my oldest daughter graduated from high school. The personnel there are simply incredible...very polity and extremely accommodating. I went to my appointment and I forgot to bring my child's alien number, and [the counselor] waited for me to go home and get it in order to process my paperwork. It was snowing and she was very, very nice." - Maria, North Providence
"I must state that my family is highly satisfied with the CPC. It was a big help to us in the financial process. We are self-employed and need different information filled out on the FAFSA and the people at the CPC are very helpful and knowledgeable. We could have not done it correctly without them. I also called them several times with questions that I had and if they were not able to take the call at that time, they would always get back to me when they were available. I have recommended them to several friends and family members. This free service is much needed and very helpful and I wish them continued success. I will be back with my 2nd next year for additional help. I am the type of person that likes to deal one-on-one (face-to-face) instead of always being told to go online and search for this and that and afraid of doing things incorrectly. The experiences that I had have been great with the CPC." - Debbie, West Warwick
"Being working parents and having this first time experience of sending our son to college was very confusing to us on the process .The staff at the college planning center were very professional ,knowledgeable and helpful they made this process worry free I would strongly recommend giving them a call for there assistance .It is wonderful that we have such a center to refer to." - Louis & Patricia, Pawtucket
"I've dealt with both the staff from Warwick and Cumberland and found everyone to be of great help. I'm sure I'll be back again next year with more questions and help with the FAFSA. Thanks again." - Shane, North Providence
"I visited your Warwick Mall location on two occasions and was helped by your representative Kristi both times. I couldn't have requested a more knowledgeable and friendlier person to talk this whole process through with! She made us feel very at home and made my daughter feel a little less stressed about the whole college process. As a parent, the whole college paperwork process can be a little daunting, but she made it all look so easy! I would definitely recommend visiting this location to others!" - Kathie, Cranston
"I never could have filled out the financial aid forms with out the CPC help. They were SO knowledgeable and calm at a time that I was nervous and stressed. I highly recommend their help to any parent of a high school senior. I have 2 more children to get through the financial aid process and I will most definitely be back!" - Maura, Smithfield
"Between my FAFSA and my son's I have used the Bristol location once and the Warwick location four times. Every time I have gone to one of the offices during my initial visits and during my post tax filing follow-ups I have been treated courteously by extremely helpful and knowledgeable personnel. They have truly been a blessing to me! Having used the services of the CPC, I would never want to fill out the FAFSA on my own. I have recommended the CPC to friends and coworkers and will continue to do so in the future." - Mike, Warwick
"Invaluable assistance in navigating the FAFSA and CS forms... we've used the CPC numerous times, both when our daughter was a senior in high school and as a freshman... we may not have the most complicated financial circumstances to consider, but when, as parents, we are busy with work, home, and preparing for college, it is comforting to note that we have the professional, courteous and knowledgeable staff to assist us in completing these required forms. In addition, having a service pro bono is the cherry on top so to speak.... thanks to all at CPC for making this such an easy and painless experience!" - David, Cranston
"My son is currently a sophomore in college and we have been using the CPC free service since he was a senior in high school. We always find the experience to be pleasant, informative and very helpful. I would never attempt to complete the FAFSA online by myself with this wonderful resource that is available. We have visited the CPC in Warwick Mall as well as the one in Providence at the Community Center. Every time we used this resource, we encountered knowledgeable professionals who were quick and efficient in filing all necessary forms for us - and always with a smile!! We will continue to use the CPC throughout my son's college career and beyond if he chooses to continue his education after college." - Denise, Cranston
"Always a very positive experience. They are always very pleasant and very helpful with any questions I may have. Complete the FAFSA in minutes which really saves me a lot of time and I know that it is done correctly. I can't say enough about the CPC." - John, Bristol
"Wonderful service I highly recommend!!" - Heidi, Cranston
"Your staff was wonderful in making sure my daughter was doing all the right things from selecting colleges to apply to, to financial aid, to making her final decision. I have recommended the CPC to everyone I meet who seems the slightest bit confused or overwhelmed with the college process. Your staff has put them all at ease." - Missy, East Providence
"Thank you so much for providing this service. It is very stressful preparing your child for and helping them through the college process. This service helps to relieve some of that stress. My son is graduating college this year. I hope the CPC will still be available in 2013 as I prepare to send my daughter off to college. Thank you again." - Sharon, Seekonk
"[At the] College Planning Center they are all very helpful and friendly. I been going to them since I was a senior in high school and still do so as I'm in my second year of college." - Tina, Cranston
"Staff person was professional, kind and made a cumbersome process of completing the CSS a breeze. I highly recommend utilizing their services. Thank you so much!" - Victoria Zanghi-Brown, Parent
"We are so lucky to have this service available to us! Thank you." - Claudine, East Providence
"Fabulous experience every year. We first visited when our daughter was a junior in high school to help us understand and plan. Knowledgeable nice people. Well organized. Have recommended CPC to many others. Yes, we could figure it all out on our own but it is difficult and confusing and everyone's situation is a little different, even from year to year. Thank you." - Cynthia, Providence
"Planning for College is so stressful and overwhelming. We had so many questions and heard horror stories about filing the FASFA form. We had attended a seminar offered by the College Planning Board at THS where we met Dave Deblois. We made an appointment with him shortly after that seminar and It felt like a burden had been lifted from my shoulders to have someone help us with this process. Having the College Planning Center is such a great service. Thank You." - Dawn, Tiverton
"If there is one thing I tell every parent I know it is "When the time comes GO to the CPC, it doesn't matter the high school the student attends or the college they are going to, you HAVE to talk to the people at CPC, you will be amazed at how easy they make everything!!" - Karenlee, Parent
"I have been using the CPC since my 1st son applied to colleges in 1999. I am visiting the CPC now with my 4th child. I have sent numerous friends and parents I meet to the CPC - it is an invaluable resource. Everyone thanks me for the referral to the CPC. Please continue the great service. College is a very major investment in time and money for middle class families (and a positive one). The CPC makes the process easier to understand allowing for better decision making." - Nancy, Portsmouth
"Love the fact that the Cumberland/Lincoln Boys Club has the CPC. It is so convenient to use. Mrs Crooks is ALWAYS so helpful. Its a pleasure to work with her! She has helped us now for several years. She has taken the stress out of financial aid applying." - Michele, Lincoln
"We can't thank College Planning Centers of Rhode Island enough for the service they provide. We have so many friends that stress over the FAFSA process. When we hear their stories, we can't understand why they just don't make an appointment with College Planning Center. We have been customers for the past three years. This year, we needed to complete 2 FAFSAs and it doesn't matter that we are Massaschusetts residents. Everyone should utilize CPC is so easy, fast and FREE!" - Martha & Brad, Westport
"CPC takes all of the stress out of financial aid paperwork. They are also always there to answer any questions, and to help you make decisions regarding what to accept." - Roseanne, Bristol
"I have recommended The College Planning Center to so many people. I can't imagine why anyone entering college for the first time wouldn't utilize such a great resource. You take away the stress of filling out forms that are crucial for financial aid and scholarships." - Susan, Cumberland
"The College Planning Center is a great resource in guiding you through the college admissions process. They are thorough and wonderful at explaining everything to you....a "hidden treasure" that I am glad I found." - Dawn, Barrington
"I don't know why anyone would choose to do it differently. The people there are so nice and helpful. In 20 minutes they got done what would have taken me hours." - Karen, Providence
"Without the help of CPC, filling out the financial aid applications would would have been a long and complicated process. I had many questions that CPC was able to early answer. Also, because my economic situation is not common, CPC was able to help me fill out the application in the best way possible for me and accommodate to my special circumstance." - Laura, Providence
"Erin DeMaggio, Educational Counselor, made our visit very comfortable and less stressed. As first time users of CPCRI, my husband and I left our appointment extremely satisfied. The service and information that we received eased the stress that we were anticipating. We would highly recommend CPC." - Kim, Warwick
"Every year that we have gone we always have a great experience. Any question we ask, we always get an answer & great advice. Staff is always pleasant." - Renee, North Smithfield
"Fastest way to get things done right." - Mark, Cranston
"Fun, concise and fast and the advice given was helpful and good sources we're offered" - Luis, Providence, High School senior
"Great service! Answered all of my questions and were very reassuring." - Kristen, North Scituate
"Each time I have used the College Planning Center it has been a great experience. Extremely pleasant to work with and very professional." - Maureen, Harrisville
"After getting help from CPC I wrote on Facebook that "CPC was a great help with the FASFA"" - Mike, Scituate, High School senior
"As we all know, college financial aid forms can be a bit overwhelming - the College Planning Center is a wonderful resource to help you through the process. Courtney was so helpful and approachable - she made a daunting task manageable. I am so glad one of my friends recommended CPC to me." - Susan, Barrington
"CPC is a lifesaver. They are so efficient and helpful. Thank you!" - Faith
"We were grateful for the assistance we received. I couldn't imagine getting the FAFSA and CSS/Profile completed without a knowledgeable person to help sort through the details. They were able to provide answers to questions that we were not able to find online. Highly recommend using this free service!" - Kathy, Harrisville
"Without the CPC my son and I would have been lost." - Denise Leonard, Parent
"I am always treated exceptionally well! I have been helped by some very intelligent, talented, patient people. I always recommend the College Board Planning Center to friends, family and my own students!" - Lorna, Barrington
"I highly recommend the College Planning Center to other parents. I have used their services for the past several years for both of my children. They have been helpful in providing answers and have made the process of filing financial forms so much easier. A great resource!" - Debra, Cranston
"I really thank you guys for all your help and for the great services that you offer.God bless you all." - Miguelina Trinidad, Pawtucket
"I have had CPC assist with our FASFA every year for college. They make the process a piece of cake! We are in and out in no time at all and I feel very confident in knowing the form will be done right when I have CPC in my corner!" - Mary, Warwick
"I have received help from the CPC and as long as they are around, I will be making appts. with them. They are very helpful in the past and now. I would hate for the future not be able to seek there help. My daughter is in college and they were very helpful with all information." - Donna, North Providence
"I definitely would have been able to figure out the FAFSA form alone...it just would have taken me four times as long. So glad I took my friend's advice and went to the CPC" - Donna, Smithfield
"We had never been through the process before, and our experience with CPC took the mystery and worry out of it for us. The staff was knowledgeable and helpful, and we left knowing that in subsequent years we could handle the task with confidence." - Doreen, Lincoln
"CPC is the way to go. Friendly atmosphere. Within five minutes or less your stress about sending your child off to college is eliminated. I will never file without the help of CPC." - Deanna, Westerly
"I am a high school guidance counselor in the town of North Providence and refer students to the CPCRI for FAFSA purposes often. We also use the CPCRI for an annual financial aid night for juniors and seniors." - Russell Paone, Guidance Counselor
"I had a full understanding of what a FAFSA is and the center was a great help to me." - Debbie, Chepachet
"My daughter and I have been working with the College Planning Center for approximately 2 years beginning with assistance with her college search and as recently as three weeks ago when I had questions on student loans.
Our experience has been phenomenal. We have seen many counselors and asked about a variety of topics. We research the information available on the website. We have learned so much about the college process that has been helpful to us. The wide range of resources is amazing and it is all free.
As we sat through financial aid workshops at various colleges, I often suggested to other parents about visiting the college planning center in their state. No one either knew of this resource or did not have it available in their state.
Thank you to everyone who has helped us. My daughter was accepted at Brown University and we are convinced this is a great fit for her. We will be back to visit as we continue to figure out the best way to pay for this! Please support efforts in the legislature to keep this resource alive." - Maureen Mooney, Parent of student attending Brown University
"I have returned every year to have my daughter's FASFA completed!!! Thank you for providing such a great service!!!" - Leslie, Warwick
"I have used this facility for the past three years and experienced the greatest staff ..they are so helpful...I have recommended them to everyone going through the college experience." - Marcia, Cranston
"My husband & I received help in filling out both the FAFSA and the CSS profile (on two separate occasions) and were amazed at how quickly the process went. While we could have figured it out on our own, it would have taken us MUCH longer and been stressful. We were grateful for the assistance. What a great resource!" - Christy, Cumberland
"It's a fantastic service and I recommend to anyone to contact College Planning Center when planning for this crucial next step in life." - Rick, Portsmouth
"Its nice to see that we ,as tax payers,get assistance from nice folks at the CPC. The ease at which they do there jobs and how they almost immediately calm all the fears you have is priceless. Thanks for all the help" - David, Newport
"It's such a great service. The college planning process can be overwhelming. Having an experienced staff to walk you through the process is invaluable." - Ray, Warwick
"The ladies are very experienced, friendly, and welcoming...they make us to feel at home, every time we visit the Warwick office. Thanks for such wonderful service that you are offering. Had it not been for CPC, I and my son would never have known so much about college planning." - Frances, Providence
"The staff at the College Planning Center is very knowledgeable and professional. We are very fortunate to have real people answer all of our questions! It's such a relief to know that the FAFSA is done by someone who is so familiar with this form. Thank you for such a great service!" - Claudine, East Providence
"This is a wonderful resource. I am so grateful these service are available. The information was very useful. I am grateful for this service." - Denise, Parent
"Our daughter's financial aid package changed 1 week before school was to start, the CPC helped us to regroup and figure out our options." - Shelley, Cranston
"The amount of time and patience that was afforded to us, along with the manner in which our advisor assisted was priceless. We could not have gone through this process without the CPC. Thank You" - Rikki, Cranston
"The people at CPC were friendly, knowledgeable and helped to guide me through what felt like the daunting task of completing the FAFSA." - Sarah, Westerly
"The CPC helped me with this very overwhelming process. I have 2 daughters that attended college so they have helped me with my FASFA a total of 8 times! Thank you! CPC!" - Diane, East Providence
"I have used the CPC each year for my son's four years of college. I went to the Warwick site for the first two years and then Bristol and Elmwood for the last two years. I couldn't have done it without them! They were a big help to me!" - Gail, Warwick
"I recommend going to the college planning center because they can help you answer any questions you have about the (complicated) college process!" - Julie, Lincoln
"I would recommend this service to anyone who wants to have there financial aid packages done correctly and promptly." - Kathleen, Warwick
"It was so helpful having this service with a very pleasant and experienced person as I had 3 FAFSAs and 1 CSS profile to complete for the 2012-2013 year." - Diane, Cumberland
"It was very helpful towards narrowing down which colleges I wanted to apply to." - Rachel, Warwick, High School senior
"It was very informative by helping understand the due dates and way the colleges ran, as well as contact information." - Paula, Central Falls
"The staff was very professional and even though I showed up on the wrong day in the middle of a snow storm, they still were able to process my application. Thank you to them" - Susan, Foster
"The staff was very knowledgeable, it's very confusing for a first time parent preparing a college student, I was very grateful for their help!" - Renee, Johnston
"This is the second time I have used CPC. Stacy is wonderful, friendly and I am thankful for her assistance. I couldn't do it without her!" - Laura, Lincoln
"We've always been treated with prompt, knowledgeable service. It has made a difficult process easy and without dread." - Linda, Cranston