If you search the internet for advice about how to get into college, some of it will be great and some will be flat-out wrong, but most sites don’t exist with the sole intent to scam you. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for advice that purports to help you pay for college. Many of those sites appear to be offering free, helpful advice, but actually have an unstated financial interest in whether or not you follow it. They push lenders that they have arrangements with, or require a fee for something that’s widely available free of charge, or arouse fear with the promise to cure it for a fee.
Thankfully, the National Association of College Admission Counseling has created a list of trusted, current sources counselors can recommend to families. You can find that list here.