College Admission Help: College Fair Provides A Learning Experience
By ROBERT SAMUELS
rsamuels@MiamiHerald.com
The economy may be shaky, but college recruiters told parents and students that college is not out of reach.
With thousands buzzing behind them, a crowd of parents and teenagers three deep swarmed Natalie Cuenca-Suñer, a Florida State University admissions officer.
In one minute, she said six times what a good SAT score would be: somewhere between 1740 and 1990. She gave the typical range for grade-point averages five times: 3.6 to 4.2.
''They're always interested in us here,'' Cuenca-Suñer said while opening her seventh box of brochures at the National College Fair, which came to the Doubletree Miami Mart on Sunday. ``We're the local school. The students can get in-state tuition. We just want them to apply.''
Miami-Dade Public Schools, which brought the touring national fair to Miami, expected as many as 10,000 students to visit the booths.
Freak-outs about admissions and financing are to be expected. But now, more than ever, the fair's hosts wanted to emphasize that the economic slump should not deter qualified students from getting a college education.
''We want people to realize they don't have to be wealthy to go to college,'' said Perla Tabares Hantman, a Miami-Dade School Board member and co-chair of the local college-fair committee. ``We want them to know about scholarships. And we have workshops about how to apply for financial aid -- in English, Spanish and Creole.''
Marlene Mitchell and her son, Christopher, attended one such session, where the speaker discussed the different federal loans and grants that a student can obtain.
''Today, I learned that some schools give financial aid, not just the government. I didn't know that. It helps me feel a little better,'' the elder Mitchell said.
The fair, coordinated by the National Association of College Admission Counseling, plans to return to South Florida in November -- this time, to Fort Lauderdale.
Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, who attended the fair, called it one of the best ''one-stop shops'' to ever visit the area.
Representatives of more than 150 colleges, from St. Petersburg, Fla., to Rome, Italy, came to Miami to woo students and field their questions.
While state universities and the University of Miami received the most attention, others hoped their locations and specialized offerings would interest students such as Shannon Hemmings.
Hemmings, a junior at Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School in North Miami-Dade, is looking for a college with a good arts and musical-theater program. She carried University of Florida paraphernalia, but she and her mother were discussing other options.
''Maybe I should look at some places in California or New York,'' Hemmings told her mother, Sharon McCormack.
Then they passed the booth for Bond University, located in Queensland.
As in Australia.
Hemmings' eyes perked up at the possibility. ''How about Australia!'' she said. ``I never thought about it before, but I could study someplace international.''
College Admission Help: College Fair Provides A Learning Experience
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Pell College Grants Increase Under Stimulus Bill
Pell College Grants Increase Under Stimulus Bill
February 23, 2009
DesMoines Register, Iowa
Part of the new $787 billion federal stimulus package that Congress passed and President Barack Obama signed into law last week includes more money for federal Pell Grants. The result will help thousands of students.
The program provides need-based grants to qualifying college students. The program is designed to promote greater access to postsecondary education across America.
The grants don't have to be repaid.
"This is welcome news," said Rob Denson, president of Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC). "The economic downturn is hurting many of our students, particularly those from low income households. So, the additional Pell Grant funding will help many DMACC students pursue graduation and new careers.”
The stimulus legislation provides for slightly more than $17 billion for Pell Grants. This year the maximum Pell Grant is $4,731 per student, per year. That amount would go up to $5,350 per student next year (2009-10 school year) and $5,550 in 2010-11.
Pell College Grants Increase Under Stimulus Bill
"The additional Pell Grant dollars have helped our students offset the rising cost of tuition. For the highest need students the grants have helped, not only with tuition, but with books and other related educational expenses. It's kept many of them in college. The new increase has come at a very opportune time."
"Pell is a very important resource for students," said Delores Hawkins, director of DMACC financial aid. She said now is the time to begin applying for financial aid, including applications for Pell Grants.
February 23, 2009
DesMoines Register, Iowa
Part of the new $787 billion federal stimulus package that Congress passed and President Barack Obama signed into law last week includes more money for federal Pell Grants. The result will help thousands of students.
The program provides need-based grants to qualifying college students. The program is designed to promote greater access to postsecondary education across America.
The grants don't have to be repaid.
"This is welcome news," said Rob Denson, president of Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC). "The economic downturn is hurting many of our students, particularly those from low income households. So, the additional Pell Grant funding will help many DMACC students pursue graduation and new careers.”
The stimulus legislation provides for slightly more than $17 billion for Pell Grants. This year the maximum Pell Grant is $4,731 per student, per year. That amount would go up to $5,350 per student next year (2009-10 school year) and $5,550 in 2010-11.
Pell College Grants Increase Under Stimulus Bill
"The additional Pell Grant dollars have helped our students offset the rising cost of tuition. For the highest need students the grants have helped, not only with tuition, but with books and other related educational expenses. It's kept many of them in college. The new increase has come at a very opportune time."
"Pell is a very important resource for students," said Delores Hawkins, director of DMACC financial aid. She said now is the time to begin applying for financial aid, including applications for Pell Grants.
Senator Proposes Increasing College Grants
Senator Proposes Increasing College Grants
By PETER JACKSON (AP)
The Times Leader
Northeastern Pennsylvania's Newspaper
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
A key state senator is calling for an expansion of Pennsylvania's grants for college students and strict new limits on tuition increases at most colleges and universities that get state funding.
Senate Education Committee Chairman Jeffrey Piccola advocated an injection of $145 million into the grant program, which he said would help an additional 25,000 students.
His plan would offset the cost largely by eliminating tax breaks for the film industry.
The Dauphin County Republican also advocates requiring colleges and universities that get the most state funding to limit their annual tuition increases to the inflation rate.
Piccola cast his proposals as an alternative to Gov. Ed Rendell's more expansive plan to boost tuition aid by more than $500 million a year by legalizing and taxing video poker machines.
Senator Proposes Increasing College Grants
By PETER JACKSON (AP)
The Times Leader
Northeastern Pennsylvania's Newspaper
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
A key state senator is calling for an expansion of Pennsylvania's grants for college students and strict new limits on tuition increases at most colleges and universities that get state funding.
Senate Education Committee Chairman Jeffrey Piccola advocated an injection of $145 million into the grant program, which he said would help an additional 25,000 students.
His plan would offset the cost largely by eliminating tax breaks for the film industry.
The Dauphin County Republican also advocates requiring colleges and universities that get the most state funding to limit their annual tuition increases to the inflation rate.
Piccola cast his proposals as an alternative to Gov. Ed Rendell's more expansive plan to boost tuition aid by more than $500 million a year by legalizing and taxing video poker machines.
Senator Proposes Increasing College Grants
Monday, February 23, 2009
Time to Thank a Counselor
Time to Thank a Counselor
Super Sunday has come and gone, and Phil the groundhog has sentenced us to six more weeks of winter. But did you know that the month of February features National School Counselor Week? It’s the perfect opportunity to thank the professionals in our schools who work with teachers to make sure students have stronger self-esteem, clearer academic and career goals, and brighter futures. While counselors may be better known for fixing schedules and doing lunch duty, there are hundreds of thousands of students out there who are college-bound, drug-free, in safer homes, or simply alive, thanks to the behind-the-scenes efforts of these highly committed individuals.
If your holiday budget was entirely spent on guacamole dip last month, don’t worry. The three best ways to thank these low-key workers are free:
First, thank them directly. Counselors are busy people (nationally, there’s only one counselor for about every 400 students), so if all you do is call, write, or walk in to say “I heard it’s School Counselor Week, so thanks for all you’re doing”, that will be more than enough. Any time a counselor gets a message they don’t have to respond to, you’ve made their day, and this is especially true if that note is one of gratitude. The price is right for you, and the value is immeasurable to them.
Second, thank the principal for what counselors are doing. Most of what counselors do is so behind the scenes, others at school often don’t know what’s being done, including the principal. Your word of support reminds principals of the value of counselors, and may get them to think twice before giving counselors duties that take them away from serving students in a professional capacity. Sure, someone has to sharpen the pencils for testing week, but why does it have to be the only person in the building who’s trained in crisis intervention? Your thanks will help balance the perspective.
Third, encourage the principal to hire well-prepared counselors. Budget cuts are leading some schools to lay off counselors, or hire individuals who don’t have the expertise in personal, career, and college counseling needed to help students and their families make strong change and healthy choices. Learning is the top priority at school, and counselors help students learn about themselves, so they can be better students and stronger people. Use your voice to make sure students can find theirs.
Challenging times require us to find ways to live with what we have. Because of school counselors, students understand more about the wealth of what they have, who they are, and what they can become. That’s something we should be thankful for all the time, but especially this month.
Time to Thank a Counselor
Super Sunday has come and gone, and Phil the groundhog has sentenced us to six more weeks of winter. But did you know that the month of February features National School Counselor Week? It’s the perfect opportunity to thank the professionals in our schools who work with teachers to make sure students have stronger self-esteem, clearer academic and career goals, and brighter futures. While counselors may be better known for fixing schedules and doing lunch duty, there are hundreds of thousands of students out there who are college-bound, drug-free, in safer homes, or simply alive, thanks to the behind-the-scenes efforts of these highly committed individuals.
If your holiday budget was entirely spent on guacamole dip last month, don’t worry. The three best ways to thank these low-key workers are free:
First, thank them directly. Counselors are busy people (nationally, there’s only one counselor for about every 400 students), so if all you do is call, write, or walk in to say “I heard it’s School Counselor Week, so thanks for all you’re doing”, that will be more than enough. Any time a counselor gets a message they don’t have to respond to, you’ve made their day, and this is especially true if that note is one of gratitude. The price is right for you, and the value is immeasurable to them.
Second, thank the principal for what counselors are doing. Most of what counselors do is so behind the scenes, others at school often don’t know what’s being done, including the principal. Your word of support reminds principals of the value of counselors, and may get them to think twice before giving counselors duties that take them away from serving students in a professional capacity. Sure, someone has to sharpen the pencils for testing week, but why does it have to be the only person in the building who’s trained in crisis intervention? Your thanks will help balance the perspective.
Third, encourage the principal to hire well-prepared counselors. Budget cuts are leading some schools to lay off counselors, or hire individuals who don’t have the expertise in personal, career, and college counseling needed to help students and their families make strong change and healthy choices. Learning is the top priority at school, and counselors help students learn about themselves, so they can be better students and stronger people. Use your voice to make sure students can find theirs.
Challenging times require us to find ways to live with what we have. Because of school counselors, students understand more about the wealth of what they have, who they are, and what they can become. That’s something we should be thankful for all the time, but especially this month.
Time to Thank a Counselor
Sunday, February 22, 2009
College Admission: Now Is The Time To Apply For Help
College Admission: Now Is The Time To Apply For Help
BRENDA BUCHANON
News Editor
The Daily Record
Dunn, North Carolina
Published: February 22, 2009
It is time for your high school senior to attend college, and parents, if you don't know what to do next, there is help for you this weekend.
The College Foundation of N.C. (CFNC) and the N.C. Association of Student Financial Aid administrators will host their annual Free Application For Student Aid (FAFSA) day Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at the State Employee's Credit Union at 411 Pine State St. in Lillington. In Johnston County, help is provided at Johnston Community College in the Wilson Building at the Career and Transfer Resource Center in Smithfield. There are no locations in Sampson County.
In order to secure financial assistance, the FAFSA is required for all federal and most state financial aid. To complete the form requires both the students' and their parents' federal 1040 tax forms for 2008. The student should complete as much of the Web worksheet from the U.S. Department of Education Web site (www.pimn.ed.gov) as possible before Saturday.
Some schools have already held financial aid nights for students and parents to complete the financial form. But students who have not yet completed the application may still register online through CFNC at CFNC.org/fafsaday or call (866) 866-CFNC toll-free.
With deadlines looming students should complete the FAFSA and apply early because those who apply by the deadlines are awarded the grants and low-income loans first from individual colleges. In North Carolina, there is an expected 29 percent growth in applicants over last.
Area schools are helping students and parents with applying for financial assistance. Midway High School counselor Larinda Haight said approximately 80 to 90 people attended their general financial aid information night on Jan. 27 with 23 families attending a FAFSA night held Tuesday at the school. Parents and students completed the FAFSA form online Tuesday night with the help of Sampson Community College Financial Aid director Judy Tart.
Estee Allen, whose son, Gibby, who is a Midway senior and will attend Southeastern Community College in Whiteville, completed the forms Tuesday night to find out if her son was eligible for a Pell Grant.
"He wasn't eligible for a Pell Grant, but he may be eligible for other assistance," Mrs. Allen said. "He is my first senior and it can be confusing ... I went because I didn't want to fill out the form wrong, but they (Ms. Tart) made it easy. With the economy the way it is, we need to get all the help we can to limit the student loans for him."
After College Admission
Even when you secure Pell Grants, scholarships or loans, after you are admitted to a college, you must renew your FAFSA application each year, according to Campbell senior Sasha Fuller. Ms. Fuller, who is from Tuscaloosa, Ala., and will graduate in December, said she received a Presidential Scholarship, two fine art scholarships, Pell Grant and loans to fund her education.
"I plan to continue to receive help," Ms. Fuller said. Her advice is to renew the FAFSA each year to insure continued assistance.
Economic Impact
Campbell Financial Aid Director Nancy Beasley said the college has always had a large population who apply for financial aid with approximately 80 percent of students who attend Campbell receiving some type of assistance. For the 2009 fall semester, she said, there may be an increase, due to the economic downturn.
Dr. John Roberson, vice president for enrollment management and marketing, said admissions for the fall of 2009 show inquiries and applications ahead of last year. And in order to help, as students registered for the current semester, the maximum amount of debt allowed for a student to carry into the semester was increased by 100 percent, he said.
Dr. Roberson said he is hopeful the economic stimulus package signing into law this week will help Campbell.
"The university is hopeful it may receive funding for shovel ready construction projects," he said.
Reminder
High school seniors should complete the FAFSA before the deadline (www.fafsa.ed.gov/). The financial aid office at the school you plan to attend is the best place to retrieve information about student financial aid, but remember completing the FAFSA form is the first step in the process to receive grants, loans and/or work-study to help with college financial needs.
College Admission: Now Is The Time To Apply For Help
BRENDA BUCHANON
News Editor
The Daily Record
Dunn, North Carolina
Published: February 22, 2009
It is time for your high school senior to attend college, and parents, if you don't know what to do next, there is help for you this weekend.
The College Foundation of N.C. (CFNC) and the N.C. Association of Student Financial Aid administrators will host their annual Free Application For Student Aid (FAFSA) day Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at the State Employee's Credit Union at 411 Pine State St. in Lillington. In Johnston County, help is provided at Johnston Community College in the Wilson Building at the Career and Transfer Resource Center in Smithfield. There are no locations in Sampson County.
In order to secure financial assistance, the FAFSA is required for all federal and most state financial aid. To complete the form requires both the students' and their parents' federal 1040 tax forms for 2008. The student should complete as much of the Web worksheet from the U.S. Department of Education Web site (www.pimn.ed.gov) as possible before Saturday.
Some schools have already held financial aid nights for students and parents to complete the financial form. But students who have not yet completed the application may still register online through CFNC at CFNC.org/fafsaday or call (866) 866-CFNC toll-free.
With deadlines looming students should complete the FAFSA and apply early because those who apply by the deadlines are awarded the grants and low-income loans first from individual colleges. In North Carolina, there is an expected 29 percent growth in applicants over last.
Area schools are helping students and parents with applying for financial assistance. Midway High School counselor Larinda Haight said approximately 80 to 90 people attended their general financial aid information night on Jan. 27 with 23 families attending a FAFSA night held Tuesday at the school. Parents and students completed the FAFSA form online Tuesday night with the help of Sampson Community College Financial Aid director Judy Tart.
Estee Allen, whose son, Gibby, who is a Midway senior and will attend Southeastern Community College in Whiteville, completed the forms Tuesday night to find out if her son was eligible for a Pell Grant.
"He wasn't eligible for a Pell Grant, but he may be eligible for other assistance," Mrs. Allen said. "He is my first senior and it can be confusing ... I went because I didn't want to fill out the form wrong, but they (Ms. Tart) made it easy. With the economy the way it is, we need to get all the help we can to limit the student loans for him."
After College Admission
Even when you secure Pell Grants, scholarships or loans, after you are admitted to a college, you must renew your FAFSA application each year, according to Campbell senior Sasha Fuller. Ms. Fuller, who is from Tuscaloosa, Ala., and will graduate in December, said she received a Presidential Scholarship, two fine art scholarships, Pell Grant and loans to fund her education.
"I plan to continue to receive help," Ms. Fuller said. Her advice is to renew the FAFSA each year to insure continued assistance.
Economic Impact
Campbell Financial Aid Director Nancy Beasley said the college has always had a large population who apply for financial aid with approximately 80 percent of students who attend Campbell receiving some type of assistance. For the 2009 fall semester, she said, there may be an increase, due to the economic downturn.
Dr. John Roberson, vice president for enrollment management and marketing, said admissions for the fall of 2009 show inquiries and applications ahead of last year. And in order to help, as students registered for the current semester, the maximum amount of debt allowed for a student to carry into the semester was increased by 100 percent, he said.
Dr. Roberson said he is hopeful the economic stimulus package signing into law this week will help Campbell.
"The university is hopeful it may receive funding for shovel ready construction projects," he said.
Reminder
High school seniors should complete the FAFSA before the deadline (www.fafsa.ed.gov/). The financial aid office at the school you plan to attend is the best place to retrieve information about student financial aid, but remember completing the FAFSA form is the first step in the process to receive grants, loans and/or work-study to help with college financial needs.
College Admission: Now Is The Time To Apply For Help
Thursday, February 19, 2009
College Admission Successware is a FANTASTIC product
College Admission Successware is a FANTASTIC product
Attention Parents & Students:
Does this sound familiar?
"With all of this paperwork and research and decisions to
make, I don't know where to begin to get it all done!"
"My child is a sophomore in high school, is it too early to
begin the college admissions process?"
"Help, I'm already a Senior and I haven't even sent in
one application yet!"
Well, you're not alone. The process of applying for
and gaining admission to the college of your choice is one of the most
daunting and intimidating tasks you'll ever face. And to add to the stress,
you're expected to go through this while you're still a teenager!
Don't stress out! Help is on the way.
Introducing Patrick O'Connor's COLLEGE ADMISSION SUCCESSWARE. It’s a complete college application and admission toolkit from
Patrick O'Connor, Author and one of America's most effective admissions counselor.
COLLEGE ADMISSION SUCCESSWARE is an all-in-one package which will provide students and parents alike with the tools and knowledge to effectively make it through the application process. That's right, not only will you gain the knowledge and insight, but also the tools and a PLAN to succeed.
For more information on this affordable product, please link to:
http://www.my-college-counselor.com/
College Admission Successware is a FANTASTIC product
Attention Parents & Students:
Does this sound familiar?
"With all of this paperwork and research and decisions to
make, I don't know where to begin to get it all done!"
"My child is a sophomore in high school, is it too early to
begin the college admissions process?"
"Help, I'm already a Senior and I haven't even sent in
one application yet!"
Well, you're not alone. The process of applying for
and gaining admission to the college of your choice is one of the most
daunting and intimidating tasks you'll ever face. And to add to the stress,
you're expected to go through this while you're still a teenager!
Don't stress out! Help is on the way.
Introducing Patrick O'Connor's COLLEGE ADMISSION SUCCESSWARE. It’s a complete college application and admission toolkit from
Patrick O'Connor, Author and one of America's most effective admissions counselor.
COLLEGE ADMISSION SUCCESSWARE is an all-in-one package which will provide students and parents alike with the tools and knowledge to effectively make it through the application process. That's right, not only will you gain the knowledge and insight, but also the tools and a PLAN to succeed.
For more information on this affordable product, please link to:
http://www.my-college-counselor.com/
College Admission Successware is a FANTASTIC product
FAFSA Changes Don't Help College Admission Process
FAFSA Changes Don't Help College Admission Process
Allan Acevedo, Staff Columnist
Published: Wednesday, February 18, 2009: The Daily Aztec
With the start of the New Year one of the least exciting things is coming up: tax season. This is an exciting time to get some money back, but it’s also a frustrating time for many self-sufficient students, who file taxes as independents and then hit barriers when they go online to apply for yet another year of financial aid under FAFSA.
The FAFSA is the standard form used to determine your eligibility for grants, loans, and other forms of financial aid that help you go to school. But the fact that you pay for school yourself, live by yourself, and support yourself financially doesn’t mean that you’re an independent student, a designation that qualifies you for more grants and higher loan limits. With few exceptions, you’re only considered self-supporting if you are 25 years old, married, have a baby, or both your parents are dead. If none of these apply to you, your parents’ income is taken into consideration when you’re applying for help to pay for school…whether their income is actually an option for you or not.
This is a particular problem for students who don’t have access to their parents’ income information — you need to see your parents’ tax returns to complete your FAFSA, so if you don’t have it, you can’t complete the form - which prevents you from even qualifying for the loans in the first place, even as a dependant student.
But for self-sufficient students in this situation, 2009 brings a change in the way students can fill out FAFSA. Starting with the 2009-2010 year, students will be able to complete and save the FAFSA application without their parents’ information. You will still need to go back later and add your parent's information if you want to apply for loans and grants, but for students in estrangement situations, this opens a crack in the door. You can work it out with your school to provide a statement and an affidavit from your parents that they are not providing any financial aid.
While this seems to indicate that proactive steps are being taken to help students who are estranged from their parents, it's not good enough.
I am currently working with the scholarship office to petition my status to be changed from dependent to independent so that I can qualify for the loans that reflect my status, but it's an uphill battle. Few people have the answers I need and there is a lot of red tape. It’s difficult to prove that you’ve had extended separation from your parents and not just an episodic one, especially when you are under 25 working more than one job and trying to get to grades in college. I have been lucky enough to find a lawyer who is willing to supplement my own personal statement that I am submitting, but not everyone has access to those kinds of resources.
I have never been able to fill out FAFSA because I haven't had my parents’ tax information, so this will be my first year going through the process — but even if they accept my application, it's only half the battle. Now I need to go through the bureaucracy of the school in order to attempt to have my student status changed. Even if I do not qualify for any grants, I should still have the opportunity to take out student loans to finance my education, because now I can't even do that, and neither can any other student in situations like mine.
Many students aren't able to get their parents tax information for a variety of estrangement issues. So what makes those who created this system think that if a parent is not willing to give tax information, they would be willing to draft a letter stating their estrangement? It doesn’t make practical sense.
There is still a piece of the puzzle missing right now: many students who do not meet the traditional requirements to be considered independent, are in fact supporting themselves without any outside assistance. The over-dependence on the FAFSA that requires parental input prevents a group of students from being able to apply for financial aid, and even worse, not even be able to apply for loans. I myself have gone to several banks to inquire about students loans and they have all told me the same thing: go online and fill out FAFSA first.
By establishing this normative assumption that students will have parents who can support them during school, or if not at the very least will be willing to help those students do every they can do succeed, there a significant number of students left with few recourses. This small change to the FAFSA, while a step in the right direction, is not anywhere near as far as we need financial aid reform to go.
—Allan Acevedo is a political science and ISCOR sophomore.
FAFSA Changes Don't Help College Admission Process
Allan Acevedo, Staff Columnist
Published: Wednesday, February 18, 2009: The Daily Aztec
With the start of the New Year one of the least exciting things is coming up: tax season. This is an exciting time to get some money back, but it’s also a frustrating time for many self-sufficient students, who file taxes as independents and then hit barriers when they go online to apply for yet another year of financial aid under FAFSA.
The FAFSA is the standard form used to determine your eligibility for grants, loans, and other forms of financial aid that help you go to school. But the fact that you pay for school yourself, live by yourself, and support yourself financially doesn’t mean that you’re an independent student, a designation that qualifies you for more grants and higher loan limits. With few exceptions, you’re only considered self-supporting if you are 25 years old, married, have a baby, or both your parents are dead. If none of these apply to you, your parents’ income is taken into consideration when you’re applying for help to pay for school…whether their income is actually an option for you or not.
This is a particular problem for students who don’t have access to their parents’ income information — you need to see your parents’ tax returns to complete your FAFSA, so if you don’t have it, you can’t complete the form - which prevents you from even qualifying for the loans in the first place, even as a dependant student.
But for self-sufficient students in this situation, 2009 brings a change in the way students can fill out FAFSA. Starting with the 2009-2010 year, students will be able to complete and save the FAFSA application without their parents’ information. You will still need to go back later and add your parent's information if you want to apply for loans and grants, but for students in estrangement situations, this opens a crack in the door. You can work it out with your school to provide a statement and an affidavit from your parents that they are not providing any financial aid.
While this seems to indicate that proactive steps are being taken to help students who are estranged from their parents, it's not good enough.
I am currently working with the scholarship office to petition my status to be changed from dependent to independent so that I can qualify for the loans that reflect my status, but it's an uphill battle. Few people have the answers I need and there is a lot of red tape. It’s difficult to prove that you’ve had extended separation from your parents and not just an episodic one, especially when you are under 25 working more than one job and trying to get to grades in college. I have been lucky enough to find a lawyer who is willing to supplement my own personal statement that I am submitting, but not everyone has access to those kinds of resources.
I have never been able to fill out FAFSA because I haven't had my parents’ tax information, so this will be my first year going through the process — but even if they accept my application, it's only half the battle. Now I need to go through the bureaucracy of the school in order to attempt to have my student status changed. Even if I do not qualify for any grants, I should still have the opportunity to take out student loans to finance my education, because now I can't even do that, and neither can any other student in situations like mine.
Many students aren't able to get their parents tax information for a variety of estrangement issues. So what makes those who created this system think that if a parent is not willing to give tax information, they would be willing to draft a letter stating their estrangement? It doesn’t make practical sense.
There is still a piece of the puzzle missing right now: many students who do not meet the traditional requirements to be considered independent, are in fact supporting themselves without any outside assistance. The over-dependence on the FAFSA that requires parental input prevents a group of students from being able to apply for financial aid, and even worse, not even be able to apply for loans. I myself have gone to several banks to inquire about students loans and they have all told me the same thing: go online and fill out FAFSA first.
By establishing this normative assumption that students will have parents who can support them during school, or if not at the very least will be willing to help those students do every they can do succeed, there a significant number of students left with few recourses. This small change to the FAFSA, while a step in the right direction, is not anywhere near as far as we need financial aid reform to go.
—Allan Acevedo is a political science and ISCOR sophomore.
FAFSA Changes Don't Help College Admission Process
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