$cholarship $cams don't deliver promised results

Seniors are now in their final semester of high school and are considering how to finance a college education.

"This is the time of year when the Better Business Bureau (BBB) fields numerous inquiries from students and parents who are seeking information on college scholarships, grants or financial aid packages," said Michael Clayton, President/CEO of the BBB of Southeast Texas. "Our advice is always to carefully evaluate such offers, particularly if the company is guaranteeing or promising scholarships or grants."

Students and parents should be cautious when invited to attend seminars promising financial aid or scholarship opportunities.

"Many of the complaints filed with the BBB against financial aid-type companies concern the high-pressure sales pitches characteristic of these seminars," said Clayton.

Other complaints to the BBB report that companies did not give the guaranteed number of private sources, information was inaccurate, application deadlines passed and refunds were not available as promised.

For a single copy of "Financial Aid for College" send a selfaddressed stamped envelope to: Financial Aid, BBB, P.O. Box 2988, Beaumont, Texas, 77704. Expanded reliability/performance reports can be found at www.bbbsetexas. bbb.org.