HESC Wraps Up Spring College Fair Tour

Introduced more than 18,000 families to college financial aid

The New York State Higher Education Services Corp. (HESC) has introduced more than 18,000 students and parents across New York State to the Tuition Assistance Program, scholarship opportunities, and other types of college financial aid during its spring college fair tour. HESC is the state agency that helps people pay for college.

College fairs from Buffalo to New York City gave prospective students and their families the opportunity to mingle with admissions counselors from a wide variety of colleges and universities catering to almost every academic interest, all in one place.

“HESC participates in the college fairs to help students gain access to as much financial aid as possible,” said James C. Ross, President of HESC. “Families should focus on the net cost of college -- after all scholarships, grants, and other financial aid is applied -- rather than the sticker price,” he said.

A college fair is like a smorgasbord with many selections for many tastes. Students can use the opportunity to browse, ask questions, and narrow personal choices. Planning ahead by doing online research gives students the opportunity to visit the college representatives from schools that interest them the most.

“Be adventurous – don’t focus only on ‘brand-name’ schools,” said an admissions director at a recent college fair. “You may find a college you never heard of offering the exact major and program you want.”

HESC is already preparing for the fall college fair tours beginning in September. The schedule for HESC’s fall college fair tour can be found on its Web site, www.hesc.org. HESC offers vast resources to help New York State families with every aspect of going to college, including college and career planning, scholarship searches, financial literacy, and debt management.

About HESC: HESC administers 25 student financial aid programs, making it the most comprehensive financial aid agency in the nation. The agency guarantees more than $4.5 billion in student loans annually. During 2006-07, HESC awarded nearly $5.5 billion in aid to more than 700,000 students.