If you look at my family’s income, you might wonder why I need financial assistance to go to college, but if you look deeper, you will understand why it is necessary that I receive financial aid. Before I was born, my mom worked as an accountant, and my dad as a software engineer. As soon as I was born, my mom quit her job and stayed home to raise my sister and I. Since then, we have lived on a single income. My parents saved what they could for both my sister and I, but we do not have enough savings to pay for my college education due to many financial burdens presented to us over the years.
When I was 9 years old, my dad lost his job. The monthly unemployment check was used wisely, but my parents had to use their retirement savings and
Earning an education could cost you for your entire life, especially if you do not apply for the various types of financial aid. After earning their degree, several students do not earn enough money with the field they have chosen to pay off their debt, making the degree seem pointless. Families that pay for their children’s tuition often wonder, like Linda Lee, if their child is getting what they pay for. Parents pay for the tuition because they do not want their children to miss out on the “college experience.” However, when their child fails to make the right decisions or simply acts their age, it leaves the family wondering if they have made a
As a mother of four, a large number of the social problems described in the text can and does directly relate to myself, as well as, my family especially regarding the matter of education. However, the problem directly affecting my family and I is the emerging social problem of rising student loan debt. Student loan debt is a problem that has begun to seep into the very mainstream of society as more and more individuals attend college, especially those with great financial needs. Personally, I am lucky to say that I do not need to borrow money to attend IRSC which has been a major blessing that has allowed me to better my education. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about my husband, who graduated from Florida State University with student loan debts around $30,000 dollars. $30,000 dollars is a relatively average amount, according the Institute for College Access and Success(TICAS) 70% of college students graduate with student loan debt, with an average of $28,950. While this amount is overall average in our society, combined with the costs of raising four children, as well as, having only one working family member who makes a relatively low salary as a school teacher, it puts significant financial strain on my family. Rising student loan debt just doesn’t affect my family and I, it affects millions of Americans, especially those who are poor and cannot afford college. Rising student loan debt is a societal problem that is hampering millions of young Americans
Financial Aid is very beneficial for many students who want to succeed in college. Applying for financial aid gives you the help you need to pay for the college or university of your choice. Financial aid is money that can support a person or cause. It can finance your college education from 3 forms of aid; work-studies, loans, and gift aids such as grants and scholarships. Work-studies provides you with a part-time employment to students to help with college expenses. If you get a loan, financial aid borrows you money and must pay back with interest. Gift aids is like free money and you don’t have to repay it. You can go to Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online to apply. FAFSA is one of the largest sources of aids for students. The U.S. Department of Education handles FAFSA as well.
Families are now aiming low when it comes to college- or are simply not going at all. Money could play a huge part in this decision- after all, the cost of college has skyrocketed over the years, and so has the amount of student loan debt. This is something even Leonhardt admits, stating that, because of this, only about 33 percent of young adults get a four-year college degree today, while another 10 percent receive a two-year degree (Leonhardt). And even though many colleges offer financial aid packages, that money may soon be cut and the cost of college will continue to grow. It is true that, in my personal experience, just because a student is awarded financial aid does not mean they have a golden ticket to University. This leaves many desperate students the only option of taking out as many loans as they think they can handle- often more than they should. Debt is not a new issue for America, but it is still a problem. Although David Autor, an M.I.T. economist, laments: “not sending [young adults] to college would be a disaster”, no one can ignore the rising rates of loan defaults, and some think it
Every day in the United States thousands of juniors and seniors are applying to colleges all over the country. However, roughly 80% of Americans cannot afford the cost of attending college. Families and their children are paying over-priced college bills years after finishing school, even after scholarships, grants and aid. A college education has become necessary to acquire a decent paying job, yet prices are outrageously high. I will be attending college in two years, but the financial burden that is going to be put on myself and my parents overtime, is a major concern of mine.
Statistics exhibit that majority of people are unable to pay for their further education. Pew Social and Demographic Trends state, “A majority of Americans (57%) say the higher education system in the United States fails to provide students with a good value for the money they and their families spend.” Tuition rates for colleges hyperbolizes its values comparatively to the money families spend. It also proclaims, “An even larger majority- 75%- says college is too expensive for most Americans to afford.” College snatch away the money of American families at a value too high and too much for the average family to spend. Not only does college seize the money many family don’t have to begin with, but it forces families to go into debt. Working extreme hours and trying to pay for college wearies the family’s way of living. According to Pew Social and Demographic Trends, “A record share of students are leaving college with a substantial debt burden… about half say that paying off that debt made it harder to pay other bills… about a quarter say it has had an impact on their career choices.” Debts triggers a person to change their profession and causes hardships to their life in the future. High tuition rates and debts stir students away from college and jobs that they truly want. College acquire families money at an
The FAFSA is a good indicator of an average family’s ability to help pay for college, however, it does not work in situations like mine. I have had a serious medical condition that has had me in and out of the hospital since I was twelve and has caused me to miss quite a bit of school. This last summer I traveled to Ann Arbor, Michigan where I had an aortic patch plasty, which required me to be in the hospital for 56 days, when I was fourteen, I was the 26th person in the United States to have their renal arteries replaced. This condition has put a major financial burden on my parents causing them to take on multiple jobs to pay for the medical bills, which also makes it so that I do not qualify for financial aid. Although, I tend to keep my
Students from all over the United States are told all through their life that they need to attend college if they ever want to be successful, however, this is far from the truth. Often schools are culprits for driving students to attend money driven colleges, in other cases it is family. While schools all too often make the push on students to continue their schooling, parents can cause the same situation, as they may not have a degree and be working a low-paying factory job. Now kids already don’t want to be like their parents when they get older, so seeing them suffer in poverty or barely above the poverty line can cause some dissatisfaction, further seeking a degree to live a life that they never got. What many
includes "Some schools might have agreements with private for-profit employers for work-study jobs. These jobs must be relevant to your course of study (to the maximum extent possible). If you attend a proprietary school (i.e., a for-profit institution), there may be further restrictions on the types of jobs you can be assigned," (Student Aid). Now, another flaw financial aid is that you have to be qualified to receive it and if you are not, then that can be a con for going to college. People also mainly look at community colleges because even if they have financial aid, and don't have funds to go, a community college has the ability to help you by granting you money to attend there. You would also be able to transfer to a 4-year with different
Despite the disadvantages I may have due to my financial background, I do have the advantage of having people support me. Throughout my life, my family rarely had extra money for expenses. However, they did find a way for me to achieve a good high school education through an internet home school program. Through this opportunity, I accomplish my goal of graduating high school in 3 years and with the grades and standardized test score that allow me to become the first in my family to go to a university. I
College is stressful for everyone involved in the financial process. Parents may need to work longer hours and still not be able to pay for their child's education and other needs. Students are pressed to work hard to maintain good grades and reach out to every opportunity for financial aid to relieve the burden placed on their parents’ shoulders and alleviate their hardships. Even other siblings attending public schools feel a pressure to be more conscientious of every penny spent. I know for a fact that receiving financial aid would not only help myself, it would be a huge help to my family as they support me through college.
Easy money, something everyone wants, but more when you need it to reach your goals. However, as a student you tend to be told in high school when to do everything and when the due dates are. Financial aid can be found anywhere from people who are private founders to the financial aid office where you can reach from the internet at fasfa.ed.gov. Which can be applied from a certain time frame for the most money for your college career. Also take in conversation that there are also people who have organizations and foundations that give money to students who need it with minimum requirements and characteristics that you already have and have been born with. Looking for financial aid has changed over the years and the way it is done.
Sabra Cope here, Talent Search Advisor for Scott County. Did you know one of the biggest reasons for not going to college is money? Anyone will agree that college is expensive, very expensive. But, with a little research, planning and a good support system you can go to college without the worries of how you will pay for it. Thus, freeing your mind to focus on what’s important…your studies! So let’s take a look at all the financial aid possibilities and options out there. When it’s broken down, you will see that it’s not as scary as it seems. Plus, there are a lot of people who want you to succeed. So don’t be afraid to ask for a bit of advice. Let’s get started…
I am a psychology student attending at Dawson College, currently unemployed and living with my mother as well as a younger sibling. At home, it is my mother who supports my sister and me to the best of her abilities. From the day that I was born, my mother made it clear that my and my sister’s education was a top priority to her. She has always managed both of our schooling; spending time and effort to make it possible for both of us to attend school. We are, in fact, a lower income family who relies on a family allowance from the government as well as other types of financial aid. However, this has not stopped me from continuing my studies.
According to a survey on CollegeBoard.org comparing data from 1987 to present day, room and board and tuition fees have increased significantly from $1,590-$15,160 in 1987 all the way up to $3,570-$34,740 in 2017. While the price of education is increasing, financial aid is a valuable tool to help students afford the rising cost. With a plethora of options available, it can be overwhelming to learn about each one as well as their own drawbacks. Luckily, this guide is here to completely inform about financial aid, and as daunting as it seems, it boils down to three categories: scholarships, grants, and loans. That said, before this paper delves into the three main topics, it’s crucial to learn about eligibility first.