What makes us different
Most College Consultants Focus on Admissions. We Look at the Entire College Decision.
Getting into college is only one part of the equation. For families with household incomes of $250,000 and above, the bigger question is:
How do you maximize your student's opportunities while making intelligent decisions about what college will ultimately cost your family?
College Planning ABC combines comprehensive admissions guidance with college-cost and financial strategy — so families see the complete picture instead of managing admissions and finances as two separate decisions.
Who we serve
You Can Afford College. That Doesn't Mean You Should Overpay for It.
Many of the families we advise have worked for decades to build significant income, investments, businesses, retirement assets, and family wealth. They want to give their children outstanding opportunities — but they also want to make intelligent financial decisions.
Being able to write a large tuition check doesn't automatically mean paying the full published price is the smartest strategy. The colleges your student targets — and how the college list is constructed — can have a significant impact on scholarships, grants, financial aid, and the family's total four-year college cost.
Our goal is to help you understand those opportunities before important decisions are made.
Our approach
Every Family Comes to Us With Different Priorities
There isn't one definition of a successful college outcome. That's why our planning is individualized.
Maximize College Opportunities
Build a thoughtful admissions strategy around your student's strengths, interests, academic record, goals, and best-fit colleges.
Make Smarter Financial Decisions
Understand which colleges may offer scholarships, grants, financial aid, or other opportunities to lower your family's actual college cost.
Reduce the Stress
Instead of navigating admissions, essays, deadlines, financial aid forms, scholarships, and funding decisions on your own, your family has experienced guidance throughout the entire process.
Proven results
Strategic College Planning Can Produce Significant Financial Results
College selection can dramatically affect what a family ultimately pays. We have helped families identify opportunities that resulted in approximately $60,000 to $240,000 in college-cost savings, depending on the student's academic profile, college choices, scholarships, grants, and other circumstances.
Results vary by student, family financial circumstances, and institution. Not every college awards merit scholarships.
How it works
One Coordinated College Strategy
Understand the Student
We evaluate academics, interests, extracurricular activities, goals, preferences, and potential college opportunities.
Understand the Family
We discuss the family's priorities, financial resources, college expectations, and long-term objectives.
Build the Strategy
We develop a customized college strategy that considers admissions opportunities, student fit, potential scholarships and aid, and family financial considerations.
Execute the Admissions Plan
We guide the student through college selection, applications, essays, interviews, deadlines, and other admissions requirements.
Evaluate the Financial Outcomes
When offers arrive, we help families understand the financial implications of their options and make an informed final college decision.
As Seen In
Featured, quoted, interviewed, or mentioned by leading media outlets.
Featured speaker
Trusted by the world's most prestigious institutions
Manuel Fabriquer has been invited to speak on college funding and financial planning at some of the most respected stages in the country.
Harvard Business Expert Forum
Cambridge, MA
NASDAQ Exchange
New York, NY
Carnegie Hall
New York, NY
Microsoft
Redmond, WA
University Club of Boston
Boston, MA
Watch the talk
Manuel Fabriquer — Business Expert Forum at the Harvard Faculty Club
Client success stories
Families we've helped
"Manuel did more than just guide me through the college application process. He informed me and my family of the best financial options available to us. I received over $15,000 in scholarships and grants to attend UC Berkeley."
"Thanks to Manuel, we are going to be able to pay for our kids' college with the budget that we had in mind, and you showed us how to pay off our home 10 years earlier while still paying for college."
"We were concerned about the cost of college for my daughter Jasmine. By using Manuel's services our family contribution went down from $16,542 to $10,047. We saved over $6,495 per year — sending her to UC Davis for 4 years but really only paying for 3."
"Manuel did a fabulous job helping my daughter get to University of Pacific Pharmacy program."
"Taking the FEAR out of the college process."
"Got accepted into a fancy private college for less than a CSU and UC."
"Manuel was knowledgeable, a good listener and genuinely interested in helping us save money on college tuition. He offered routes beyond merit scholarships that will reduce our expenses. We are grateful he was recommended to us."
"Coming from a middle income class family I didn't think there was any way my children would receive any kind of financial aid, but with Manuel's help we were able to receive over $21k in financial aid. Over the span of 4 years, this would equate to over $80k in aid! Manuel's expertise of what colleges were looking for was incredible. With both kids he has helped me save over $160K in college tuition. My eldest son completed his 1st year at the University of Portland and said it was the best decision of his life. I would have never imagined my kids would be able to attend a private college. If you have the opportunity to work with Manuel and his team, I highly recommend their services — and don't wait until your child is a senior!"
"I attended Manuel's free college planning seminar and enjoyed it so much I invited friends and attended a second session with my sophomore and freshman. What makes Manny's approach so successful is his ability to get through to each student, understanding their strengths and weaknesses. He has a no-nonsense approach, keeping open lines of communication with parent and student — I was always kept in the loop. With Manny's help, my oldest is attending his dream school in the fall, all while making it very affordable. I've got another senior currently working with College Planning ABC and my daughter will also be under Manny's guidance soon. College Planning ABC made college affordable for my son and I."
"My college planning experience with Manny was absolutely wonderful! He is an EXPERT in the financial aspect of college planning and also about the college application process and all its parts. He walked us through our options with pros and cons — I really appreciated how clear he was in explaining everything. We are so grateful to Manuel and his team for making this possible. I look forward to working with him again for my other children. I highly recommend Manuel and his team at College Planning ABC!"
Make Your College Decisions With a Strategy
Whether your biggest concern is admissions, college cost, or navigating the entire process with less stress, the first step is understanding the opportunities available to your family.
Schedule a Private College Strategy Consultation