Dana DeVance learned first-hand about the challenges and pitfalls of searching for college money, so she started her own business designed to take the headache out of the scholarship hunt.
DeVance and her business partner Carla Morris own Opportunity Knocks LLC, an educational finance consultation firm based in the Odenton area.
DeVance said her inspiration for the business came from personal experience.
Her own family fell victim to a scholarship search company scam when she was applying for college.
Morris taught high-school English for about four years and found herself deluged every spring by seniors asking for help writing their college and scholarship essays, she said.
“I didn?t have a lot of help finding scholarship money,” DeVance said. “There just aren?t enough guidance counselors out there. They?re burnt out.”
For an annual fee, DeVance and Morris search for scholarships and financial aid packages that fit their clients? situations, help them fill out up to five collegeapplications and even offer tips on resume writing.
A complete scholarship search, financial aid application and college application package costs $600 for an entire academic year, while the scholarship search alone runs $400 per year.
Employment search services, resume writing help and interview training are offered on an a la carte basis, ranging in price from $50 to $500.
“Our niche is really the personalized service,” said Morris.
She, along with DeVance, makes one-time visits to clients? homes to learn more about them as individuals, knowledge that can prove valuable in the scholarships search.
Students are required to give DeVance and Morris up to 10 copies of their transcripts, copies of their SAT scores, tax documents needed to apply for financial aid, a photo, three recommendation letters and a personal statement to round out the package.
The students are also required to write essays that may be required for college or scholarship applications.
But Opportunity Knocks takes care of the rest ? filling out the forms, putting packets of information together, and even mailing completed applications.
DeVance said the hardest part of her first three years in business have been time management and the pressure to succeed.
“The best part is knowing that a student we helped won?t graduate with $50,000 in debt,” Morris said.
More details
» Opportunity Knocks LLC
410-672-0926
opportunityknocksllc.com
