Meet Shelly Rufin, Independent Educational Consultant for EDFIN College Planning Experts, serving families just like yours for twenty-eight years. M.S. Clinical Counseling/Neuroscience PhD Psychology Industrial Organization (2021) Harvard University Business School Like you, Author, Speaker, TV personality, and Independent Educational Consultant, Shelly Rufin has seen the words Independent Educational Consultant defined numerous ways over the years. It is their education and experience? What makes an Independent Educational Consultant? Passion? Is it all about the situation? Is it meant only for the chosen few who rise to the top? Or, is there a different story? With almost three decades of college planning, speaking, and most importantly, real-life in-the trenches college experience and knowledge, her view is radically different. Shelly appreciates, and shares with listeners, educating the public how being an Independent Educational Consultant, helping families and their kids pursue their dreams of higher education is a passion of hers; may it be vocational, certificate, community college or attending an Ivy League university. College Planning is for everybody, everyday one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. Through her EDFIN College Planning Prep Programs and EDFIN TV/Radio Show, expert knowledge of twenty-five years in Federal and State regulations and local policies makes her the best in her field. Unlike many Independent Educational Consultants, Shelly's fusion of real-life stories and her conversational techniques, personalized mentoring and coaching, connect with her audience (families) at an intimate, individual level helping families, their students meet admissions applications requirements, winning essays, PSAT, SAT, ACT, personality career assessments, financial aid planning and more that gets results. Shelly has served as a Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships with U.S. based colleges for fifteen years were she learned from families there was a huge need for what she knew, college planning. This is where EDFIN College Planning Experts was born. As Founder/Owner EDFIN College Planning Experts, she continues to work with the best and brightest kids help. Shelly has served as a Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships with U.S. based colleges for fifteen years were she learned from families there was a huge need for what she knew, college planning. This is where EDFIN College Planning Experts was born. As Founder/Owner EDFIN College Planning Experts, she continues to work with the best and brightest kids helping them achieve their goals of higher education. She's a published author of Nine Key Decisions of Better College Planning, Better Life: Making College DREAMS a Reality, a straightforward approach with proven strategies educating families from around the globe. She holds a B.S. in Management, M.S. Human Services, M.S. in Clinical Counseling/Neuroscience, pursuing her PhD Psychology Industrial Organization and Harvard University Business School. EDFIN TV/RADIO SHOW Best of 2014 Award | Temecula | EDFIN Cash for College Shelly Rufin Johnson states it's an honor to receive this award for "Business Mentor Example to the World" from Denis Nurmela YESplace . Our kids are the future and EDFIN College Planning Experts, Expert College Counseling and the YESplace "Young Entrepreneur Exchange" together are helping kids. Professional Women's Roundtable N.A.F.E Member - Shelly Rufin She's been recognized for volunteering her service at local high schools, and serving as an advocate for the advancement and acceleration of women in business. She's received two Lifetime Achievement Awards by President Donald Trump and another by President Obama. A Women of Excellence Award by National Association of Female Executives, President's Award from Women of Connected Influence, State of California Senate Community Service Award by Senator Mike Morrell, and Community Service Award by State Senator John Moorlach 37th State District, Congressional Community Service Award by Congress Karen Bass, and Senate Award for the 67th District Melissa Melendez for educating students on the importance of early college planning in high school presentations. She's certified by the Department of Education Federal Student Aid School Relations Division Title IV Funding Administration, and National Association of Financial Aid Administrators, and Western Association of Student Financial Aid Administration: Student Loan Administration. https://www.edfin.net/bio https://www.edfin.net/yelp-reviews read more

I mean, I tried to be in contact with them, and I gave them deadlines and I don't feel like they did much. If you want someone to help you, go for it, but don't depend on them. I left a five star review but I don't feel like they did a 5 star job. Shelly asked me herself to write it while on a call with me and we had some time where we had to wait. It was kinda intimidating tbh. She's friendly and has a great personality. I don't doubt these are good people, however, the work they do isn't really much and I got my scholarships based off of me. I don't know what she really does, what she has done, and she hasn't told me what she did. I really have done everything myself, and I don't trust them so much anymore. I've worked with them a few years and I'm only really happy a good 10% of the time with them. Save your money for the actual college, not the college planner. Worst waste of money I could think of. Quick update: I lost $3,000 of aid due to those discrepancies that she made. read more

BEWARE! Students and families, this company has a CALIFORNIA SUSPENDED BUSINESS LICENSE. Are they an honest and transparent company to do business with? **NO** https://businesssearch.sos.ca.gov/CBS/Detail Cut and paste the above URL into your browser and see the status for yourself. The "s" after the https indicates that it is a safe and secure California website. Why give your personal financial information, social security numbers, and private details to a business who is in SUSPENDED status with the CALIFORNIA STATE FRANCHISE TAX BOARD about their own taxes due? My family will not do business with this company until the state of CALIFORNIA (and the Internal Revenue Service) considers the tax situations 100% resolved. This has gone on for years... read more

I would like to thank Shelly and Natalie for all the help they provided our son throughout the last year. My son had a bit of a rough year and his GPA was falling steadily. Shelly did way more than get him enough money to cover his college tuition; she mentored him at a time he needed it most. Our son really wanted to attend college but was procrastinating (big time!!). Shelly rode his butt so he would meet his eligibility deadlines for financial aid and college. She kept in constant contact with him via phone, email, and meetings. When he wasn't returning her calls, she reached out to us and kept us in the loop. I honestly feel that without her mentoring, he would not be going to college this fall. Thank you Shelly and Natalie!! read more

We needed a miracle for my grandson, Gunnar. He had applied to study at the University of Santa Barbara and had not been accepted. He was invited to send in an appeal. We knew he had only one shot at getting accepted so it had to be perfect. After writing and rewriting his appeal we contacted Shelly Rufin from EDFIN for help. Shelly took quick action and gave us a spot on direction for writing a perfect appeal. Gunnar was quickly accepted to UCSB and it is nothing short of a miracle. He will be able to live at home saving the family thousands of dollars each year. Shelly was the catalyst to Gunnar's acceptance. If you are applying to college, add Shelly from EDFIN to your team for expert knowledge and support. Bob Lee read more

EDFIN has been a source of immeasurable support to my family in the last two years while navigating the college application process for my daughter. With EDFIN, you have access to the knowledge and resources of the various options to pursue a successful college route both financially and educationally. I liken hiring college planning experts to hiring a CPA in that just as the tax system is challenging to understand, so are the financial resources out there available to students. My daughter has been accepted to one of her top choices and through EDFIN's financial planning we thankfully have access to the financial support we need to put her through college without the extreme financial stress. Thank you EDFIN :) read more

HellO! I am graciously leaving a 5 star review for EDFIN Collage Planning Expert's! My son Bentlee is off to collage this Fall. I am a single Mom, very tight schedule and I had zero knowledge in this collage process. We had the PLEASURE to work with Shelly Rufin. Shelly! Thank you!! Thank you for opening doors that we never thought possible for Bentlee. Thank you for your key knowledge, patients and kindness during this hectic but special time in our lives. Thank you for our late night conference calls, emails, and daily text messages to Bentlee and myself! It's because of all your efforts, Bentlee will be making his collage dreams possible because of you!! God Bless You!! Kerrin and Bentlee. read more

It is in every parent's best interest to follow through with EDFIN early in the college planning stages as they are well-qualified to assist with simplifying the entire process. EDFIN has proven systems to ensure parents and their youths understand the college prep focus and all options available to them. Their ability to embrace every family to ensure a successful outcome has been a primary element with thrusting the company into the forefront of this industry. Take time to review their Facebook page and YouTube testimonials. It will be well worth your time as college planning is a tough road to navigate and EDFIN will make it all manageable! read more

Shelly and staff are so great to work with. They were there every step of the way and she has given us countless advice on what to work on and suggestions on how to find additional scholarships. We were actually started late on this college planning process but we were still able to get scholarships. My son was able to enroll during the summer and has received his tuition and checks to use for the fall and for his books and materials. It was worth it for me because of my hectic schedule and knowing that they were there to help me not miss any of the deadlines, it was one less thing to worry about. So grateful! read more

I am a parent who has been with Shelly since 2014. As a parent to a first time college student, the whole process was totally overwhelming, with all the paperwork, deadlines, etc. Shelly took a load off our shoulders with doing all of that and getting my daughter financial aid we could possiblly not have gotten on our own. She got her covered so that we did not have to pay out of our pockets for it. Shelly,Natalie, and Linsie have always helped us whenever we needed answers. I highly recommend EDFIN if yourself or your child need assistance in the confusing process of financial aid. read more

So this is my first time working with a consulting agency and I'm attending here at EDFIN on my internship but I have to just say, this by far one of the best sites I've been too, Shelly really has a great connection when she speaks to someone and ultimately really wants to help kids think and prepare for their future. If I would've known about this place before I started school, I would've definitely came here and see what I could've done and the steps to have gone to the college of my choices. So far, I'm really enjoying this place. read more

This company is amazing! It is full of people who are very nice and make you feel right at home from the moment you step in the door. Shelly is amazing! She is very understanding In what you want to get accomplished and constantly working around the clock to help! In my personal opinion I think that it is great what this company does in terms of helping people make college for affordable for themselves. This company really prides themselves on helping people achieve their dream of going to college! Keep it up!!! read more

Shelly. Her systems are amazing! She really has her follow through down. She is organized, she studies, and knows all the standards, regulations and how to get financial aid. Many people do not understand how early you need to prepare for college...what colleges are looking for on your application, etc. She knows funding sources and is updating every year! She even handles student housing issues if you don't want to! who does that? She is organized, even text you to remind you of what you need to be doing! read more

EDFIN College Planning is a fantastic place to get advice and planning for your emerging college student. I know the owner of EDFIN, Shelly Ruffin through the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce, she is engaged in the community and is a good corporate citizen. Shelly and her business collaborates with the High Schools in the area providing a great informative service free of charge to students on campus. I know several families who have used EDFIN and they are very happy with the services they received. read more

Our son Jake was able to get into GCU due to the expertise and knowledge of both the grants and scholarships so that we were paying about 1/2 of what we would have had to pay. What we didn't know was what you put in place their first year is what they will get for the next three years. College was a big deal for us and yet we just didn't know how we could do it. But, Shelly from Edfin Cash For College has got him in and on the right financial track for the rest of his time at GCU. read more

Shelly has been or coach since Vaughn was in 8 th grade. He only wanted to go to a few schools so we needed to make sure he would pass the stage to get him an interview. Vaughn finished a year early with HS and with the help of Shelly and Edfin was considered for MIT. Cal Tech and Georgia Tech. We are still waiting for the official acceptance but are confident he will get in to all 3. Thank you Shelly for all your help in planning for Vaughns future. We can not thank you enough. read more

I have used Shelly's service for 3 years now for both of my sons. Each year they have received more than double what we have paid her so I find this service to be very useful. Previous to finding her I tried filling out the FAFSA myself and was refused financial aid, so I was grateful for her help and not having to deal with all the red tape. Susan and Willie in the office are great too, they helped us stay on track with all the deadlines, paperwork, etc... read more

Shelly has helped our family since my son was a sophomore in high school. He will now be graduating in six months from UCSD. I don't think we could've done it without Shelly's expertise. Currently, I have two kids in college and without Shelly, I would be spending a fortune! She is knowledgeable in getting grants and finding ways to offset the entire tuition/college expenses. I am grateful to her and her staff for making our college journey successful! read more

Shelley has been an absolute joy to work with! She always keeps in contact and when she can't she has some lovely assistants who keep you up to date on all your paper work. Her services have proven to be very helpful, more so than if I had tried to do this on my own. Thanks to her and her team, I've been able to get the help that I need, both academically and financially. All around, great people to work with. Thank you for all your hard work! read more