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Entry bubble Student Financial Aid Gave Me an Opportunity

By: Ginger | April 10, 2009 | Category: General

A college student looking at a book in the libraryAs a sophomore starting high school, my mom and I met with a school guidance counselor as part of the standard routine required by my high school. The guidance counselor discussed some general school things and then she started talking to me about selecting courses. She told me to consider carefully which classes I selected. I should focus on classes that would help prepare me for college.

I thought to myself, “College? Is she nuts? My family can’t afford that.” I felt a flush of embarrassment and looked over at my mom. Mom had a surprised look on her face and blurted out, “Oh, Mary isn’t going to college.” There was an awkward silence. I don’t know how many shades of red there are, but I’m pretty sure my face must have blushed in every one of them. The counselor finally said, “But she scored in the 99th percentile for the state’s standardized testing, she has outstanding grades, and her teachers are recommending her for advanced classes. She should have a chance to go to college.” Mom told her that my family could not afford to send me to college.

That is when the counselor told my mom about financial aid. It may sound odd that my mom was not aware of such a thing, but in my mom’s background the only kids who went to college “came from money.” The guidance counselor told my mom that I could apply for scholarships, grants, and loans when I was a senior. She said that doing this could help defray the costs considerably. She went into some more detail about it all and told my mom to at least think about it. She recommended that I still take classes that would prepare me just in case I decided that I wanted to go.

I followed the counselor’s advice. At the appropriate time I applied for financial aid. I did go on to college with scholarships, grants, and loans. I earned a BS and later went back to school to earn 2 other degrees. If it hadn’t been for financial aid and the opportunity to go to college, my life would have taken a much different path. Heck, you wouldn’t be reading my blog now and THAT my friends would have been a real shame! LOL!

If you think you can’t afford to send your child to college, please check out these resources:

| View Comments [6] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: college   college_grants   fafsa   financial_aid   ginger   student_loans  

Comments (6):

blue comment bubble Posted by worked through college on April 10, 2009 at 04:43 PM EDT

Just curious if the writer is a minority?
Don't know any nonminorities that qualify for financial aid no matter how little they make
I never qualified
First they told me I nake too much even though it was pt min wage job I think 6k for the year
Then when I was between jobs they told me I had to show some income
My minority friends never experienced such
Not only did they get aid for tuition regardless of income
Many also got additional funds for living expense

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blue comment bubble Posted by Ralph DeLuca on April 11, 2009 at 09:02 AM EDT

I think financial aid is still very important. We need to offer every available option to help people get an education.

Ralph DeLuca
Madison, NJ

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blue comment bubble Posted by Donna Martinez, Ed.D. on April 12, 2009 at 02:44 AM EDT

Great Blog all!
I encourage the Blog Team and readers to visit The George Washington University HEATH Resource Center an online clearinghouse on postsecondary education for people with disabilities at www.heath.gwu.edu

If you are student with a disability you will find more information on seeking financial assistance, transitioning from high school to college, career, and the community. Make sure you visit our modules and our resources.


All the best,
Dr. Donna Martinez
Director
The GW HEATH Resource Center
www.heath.gwu.edu
askheath@gwu.edu

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blue comment bubble Posted by Ginger on April 13, 2009 at 07:52 AM EDT

Worked Through College, I didn't mention it, but I also worked through college as a lab assistant in a neurology lab. It gave me my spending money and some interesting stories about lab rats. I am not a minority. I applied for student financial aid in 1981. I don't know the details of how aid is provided now, but my sister got aid, as did many of my non-minority friends. Much of my aid came from a State of Iowa Scholar scholarship which was based on my academic performance and need. I am curious as to whether other people have encountered a similar stiuation to Worked through college.

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blue comment bubble Posted by 2001 College Grad on April 13, 2009 at 04:58 PM EDT

I applied for financial aid in 1997 and received both academic and need based help throughout my undergraduate studies; and I am not a minority. The Pell Grant is available to anyone who demonstrates monetary need and meets basic academic requirements: http://www.ed.gov/programs/fpg/index.html.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Steve on April 16, 2009 at 10:40 AM EDT

I too was not a minority and while my parents did not have a big income when I was attending college (my mom was a secretary and my dad retired) my dad had considerable savings that made money not an issue. However, I still received a good amount of financial aid just by completing the FAFSA form each year.

I finished up my undergrad at GWU and they were really great about providing aid, I am happy to see that GW has added a comment to this blog about their financial aid clearinghouse.

I know that aid comes to folks on a merit and a need basis and it is not an all or nothing proposition. Plus I don't recall working as a student impacting one's aid qualification. As an undergrad I took advantage of the work study program that was specifically geared toward working students.

If folks have questions or issues with the aid being offered, just pick up the phone or stop by the school's financial aid office. They're sole purpose is to find a way to keep you there without breaking your bank. With all the free money and cheap loans out there higher education is attainable for everyone.

Steve

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