Bill Smith
Independent college admissions and financial aid consultant in Portland, Maine
| Hourly rate range | $150 to $225 an hour |
|---|---|
| Focus areas | |
| Works with | Students and Parents |
| Also coaches | Financial coach |
| Based in | Portland, Maine, United States |
| Credentials | IECA Professional member |
| Practice | ScholarFits LLC |
Bill Smith is an independent educational consultant in Portland, Maine. He runs ScholarFITS, which helps students and parents find a college that fits them academically, socially, and financially. His work stands out for its focus on financial aid. He also gives talks to high school audiences and works with colleges and organizations on financial literacy messages for large groups.
What Bill helps with
Bill helps families pick a college that matches the student's interests, social needs, and budget. He puts special focus on understanding the real cost of a degree.
- Finding a college that fits a student's learning style
- Choosing between small or large, rural or urban campuses
- Predicting the cost of college, including grants, scholarships, and loans
- Understanding how colleges use financial aid to price themselves differently for each student
- Keeping cost and loan payments in line with earnings after graduation
- Using net price calculators to get accurate cost estimates
Who Bill works with
Bill works with students and parents who are choosing a college. He also works with colleges, high schools, and other organizations that want to explain financial aid and admissions to students and families.
How Bill works
Bill uses a three part fit model: Academic fit, social fit, and financial fit. Academic fit covers campus size, setting, class style, and learning style. Social fit covers activities and campus atmosphere. Financial fit covers total degree cost, how a family will pay, and loan payments compared to earnings after graduation.
Background and qualifications
Bill Smith is an independent educational consultant based in Portland, Maine. He is a Professional member of IECA. His practice, ScholarFITS LLC, focuses on college admissions with a strong base in financial aid. He notes that few school counselors have financial aid background, and he fills that gap. He also visits colleges and shares resources such as guides to net price calculators and financial aid basics.
Bill Smith pricing
Programs and services
- Services for families
- Presentations to high school students and parents
- Services for colleges, schools, and organizations
- College financial literacy programs for large audiences
Bill Smith reviews
The CoachVouch take
Combines college admissions guidance with deep financial aid knowledge, a skill he says few school counselors have.
Best for families who want a college choice that fits the student and keeps cost under control.
Common questions
How much does Bill Smith charge?
Coaching with Bill runs $150 to $225 an hour. Request an intro for an exact quote.
What does Bill Smith help with?
Bill Smith helps with finding a college that fits a student's learning style, choosing between small or large, rural or urban campuses, predicting the cost of college, including grants, scholarships, and loans and understanding how colleges use financial aid to price themselves differently for each student.
Is Bill Smith certified?
Bill Smith lists: IECA Professional member.
Does Bill Smith work with schools and organizations?
Yes. He gives fast-paced presentations to high school students and parents. He also helps colleges and organizations build college financial literacy messages.
How do I contact Bill Smith?
Request an intro on this page. It's free, and we'll connect you with Bill and, if you want, 2 or 3 similar coaches to compare.
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Last updated September 2026. Request a correction.