Covid-19 has created significant challenges for students who need financial aid to attend college
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Applying to college was already difficult, but in the age of Covid-19, it’s become a hill too steep for many high school students to climb. They simply aren’t applying to college at the rates they used to, despite everything colleges are doing to make the process simpler, including new test-optional policies, more flexible deadlines and increased online recruiting activities.
The Common Application, an organization with 921 member colleges, recently announced that college applications are down 8% from last year. These numbers are alarming, but what’s even more disconcerting is that researchers at The 74, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news site covering education, found fewer students are filling out the FAFSA, likening the trend to a slow-moving train wreck. FAFSA is short for the “Free Application for Federal Student Aid.” Typically, some 20 million students file the form each year. It is the document that government officials, colleges and some scholarship providers use to determine eligibility to receive grants and scholarships. Most students in America need financial aid to afford the cost of tuition, and the FAFSA is the key to unlocking those resources.
Tara Miller, lead counselor at Stephen F. Austin High School in Austin, Texas, told me that she is not surprised that FAFSA numbers are down. “For many students and parents, preparing for the future has never felt so uncertain. This moment in time feels frozen for many families. The pandemic stress, health concerns, job uncertainty and their own personal lives and current school challenges, have put higher education goals and preparation on hold. Planning for a future right now feels like a privilege they don’t believe they have,” she said. Yet despite the challenges, she insists her students fill out the forms. “Filling out a FAFSA right now is like wearing your seatbelt in the car. It may not feel like you need it all the time, but it is there when you do.”
Research by the National College Access Network suggests that students who complete the FAFSA are more likely to enroll in college. We should worry about what this year’s decline is telling us. As a nation, we can’t afford to have an entire generation of young people not pursue postsecondary education. Higher education makes a big financial difference in the lives of individuals, and also benefits society.
This is a growing crisis, and extremely time sensitive. While colleges may choose to extend admission application deadlines this winter, financial aid deadlines tend to be less flexible. Universities have limited financial resources, and once money is distributed, it does not matter how talented students are, schools simply can’t afford to offer them aid.
Everyone who knows a high school senior can help change the direction we seem to be headed. Since many students are not physically in school, any caring adult can serve as a champion for their success. What would be even better is if that caring adult sat down with a student and their family to fill out the application together. The process is complex, and research shows many won’t complete it – especially those who are first in their family to apply to college. If everyone reading this article chose one student and shared with them the following resources, we could reverse the trend and enroll more students in college.
Here’s what you can advise this young person:
Find a Counselor or Organization to Assist You:
If you’re currently in school, or even if you’re attending virtually, your school counselor, college advisor or local community organizations can help you get started. While they are often some of the busiest people in education, they will always make time for you. Putting you on a path to success is their number one goal.
Use Free Resources on the Web:
There is a lot of information out there about financial aid – so stick to trusted sources when you’re browsing the web for information. There is even information in various languages, including Spanish and Braille.
Justin Draeger, president and CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, reminds Americans that “Filling out the FAFSA is easier than ever. Over the last 10 years, the FAFSA – available online or through the myStudentAid mobile app – has been getting smarter, allowing students to skip past questions that don’t pertain to them or their families.” He also cautions families that “under no circumstances should students or parents need to pay for assistance to fill out the FAFSA.”
Connect Directly with Financial Aid Offices:
Once you submit the FAFSA, talk to the financial aid office at any of the colleges you’re interested in attending. And when you get your aid package, if you think it’s not enough, you’re not alone. In fact, nearly 60 percent of financial aid officers reported an increase in students requesting additional aid. Financial aid offices work individually with families who need their support. If you don’t know where to start, there are resources to help you ask the right questions if you need more money to make college affordable.
This year, caring adults who volunteer their time to support high school students through the financial process could directly impact the number of students who enroll in college next fall. Everyone has a stake in a nation with a robust, educated citizenry, so do it now. Reach out to that student who needs your help.
