Author: STEPHANIE MICHACA-BANDERA

I hope this email finds you and you’re able to gain a new perspective on the matter of financial aid. The un-justification of distribution of money is a foreign concept to me. I’m fully aware of the process that one needs to endure when seeing if they fall under the intended requirements of receiving aid. I’m truly against this system, as it is flawed in many aspects. I should be sending gratitude as your organization allowed me to live stress free without having to juggle my studies and worrying about ways I could make enough money to pay off my tuition. I was able to get two semesters paid off with the help of financial aid. I’m eternally grateful though I’m not fond of leaving others in the dark. Let’s get started with the basics, in this case it would involve the media. I’ve noticed there seems to be a lack of advertisement, though recently I’ve seen more promotions than I had when I was still a freshman in high school. I feel there needs to be a bit more. Although we are now seeing posters on bus stops, even the headers on train station carts, you need to be able to connect with everyone on a more personal level. You need to understand your audience first before taking any sort of actions. What do young adults love/have in common ; the usage of social media, and with the excessive amount of screen time one achieves you will be guaranteed that almost everyone will have come across it at some point in time. Along on the same topic, start making bill-baords, like they say “go big or go home”. What we need is for the new incoming freshmen to be well equipped having some background knowledge on what they should be preparing for, what they need to be on the lookout for. It is in the best interest for young adults to start off from being well informed at a young age. Students should not  have to be worried and in their own heads about the fears of staying in debt, or the heartaches of not being able to live out their dreams in their ideal college that they had planned out for themselves in their head. 

Now that we have that portion out of the way, let’s get into the nitty gritty of the situation. Having to fill out the process for financial aid (FAFSA,TAP, etc.) is not something kids are truly prepared for. What schools need to incorporate into their system are college advisors who will help guide you in your time at school, or even take time after school and dedicate it towards helping students through the application process. I’m fortunate to have had help. My school had made it their priority to not only help students but also help choose out the college for their best fit/interest.They even offered office hours at the end of day and take one on one time with students. They made it a point to go class to class, scouting out students and asking those who did and did not file out their application. Now this is the type of dedication I want to see in schools around the state. During my time at college I’ve met various new people, and throughout these first two semesters it has come to my attention that my fellow peers were not fortunate enough to have had the same supplies/guidance as I once had, this may not be the case for all but definitely a huge majority is missing out.

I suggest holding meetings for parents, as we all know students will give the excuse “I was too busy” or “I didn’t get around to it” and forget to inform their parents of these concepts that the school is offering. Sending out emails for starters would be one step in the right direction, or assigning it as extra credit homework just to motivate students to do something about it. The first step would be getting students to even acknowledge the schools need in helping them out. Tricking students should be fun and what better way than offering a prize in exchange, preferably a trip to any place of their liking. There are solutions to these problems, it would be calming to see more effort placed in the school system around the state. Something simple, no need to go over the top. 

We need the school system to bring in students of the same age range and talk to fellow peers, to understand the importance of taking their lives seriously. I personally regret not taking full advantage of my resources. Now I’m confused on what further steps to take. There should be more normalization of seeking help whilst in college. It is a misconstrued concept that in college you’re on your own. There are still advisors but somehow they’ve been deemed frightening. It is intimidating seeking help. No one should have to have this feeling.

Leaving students in the dark, making them feel clueless or even just expecting them to know everything there is to know about life in general could be overwhelming. We do not need students falling victim to this concept. Having high standards on one’s knowledge could be discouraging. Adults/teachers should be the ones to help out, since most students find it hard to confide in their parents, adults must take on that role. They do not understand how much of an impact they could have on the lives of their students.  Take the time to reconsider what I had to offer.

Sincerely, 

Stephanie Michaca

College to say the least builds character. It gives you tough skin. The most memorable years of your life, making the most out of your experience. Now you are stuck here dazed and confused because you didn’t read the fine print, filing for financial aid, student debt, and not having the facilities to qualify was not in the student manual. Distressed with thoughts drowning you mentally “Why must it all be confusing?” “ Why couldn’t there be a “How to Survive College” document.” How we all wished there was an easier way, but I guess this builds character and “sets us up” for the real world. But there is a way out, a way to gain something in return. FAFSA is an organization designed by the government to give financial aid to students in low-income families. A step in the right direction if not used wisely, though it is a blessing to most, what about those left behind? Is it not enough?

Countless articles have been written on this very topic, the ones that stand out are The New York Times articles “Thousands of Students Missing Out on College Grants, Study Finds” by Ann Carnns and “As California State Tuition Rises, Financial Aid Offices Struggle to Adjust” by Jennifer Gollan. Carnns speaks on the impact in which COVID had on students. The percentage of students who were eligible but did not claim was an astonishing amount. While Gollan uses the experiences of students who live in fear of their futures going to waste. A great way of showing pathos for both articles. But also Carrns executes with the use of logos showing statistics in the amount of money one could receive, the type of help they could receive. As we see the author gravitating towards the struggles of others, letting the reader empathize, financial aid isn’t enough to get through the years comfortably, having to take out loans they so desperately tried to avoid. 

Not everyone is fortunate with the chance to gain the advantages, and ability to qualify for aid, therefore they are left with dealing with the burden of paying a hefty sum of money. In other words they simply aren’t aware of the steps needed, or they are simply first generation and are scared to reach out for help. This is something I faced, having to do this alone. In Carrns’ article she comes to inform us through her findings that “ low-income and first-generation students were far more likely to report difficulty filling out the form, and in getting help gathering tax documents and other necessary information. Students often don’t fill out the form because they think they won’t qualify for aid, said Brett Schraeder.” Normalizing help should always be the first step, a safe environment must be needed. 

But not many people seem to take this to their advantage, to try to see if they could gain anything from the help that’s being offered. Nonetheless I am one of the few, I’m lucky enough to even have qualified for aid, let alone have it cover full tuition for this year and my following two semesters of my sophomore year. However I’m not too sure if this is a long term thing. The pandemic took hold of my family, hindering my father’s ability to continue working, stopping his job for months on end, leading him into financial struggle. It truly was a blessing in disguise, I would not wish this upon anyone but it definitely had its bright side. Having said that this may not be the case for all; I’m fortunate enough to have one less problem piled up, but once these 2 years are up I’m not entirely sure where I’m left. Struggles like these aren’t infrequent, as Gollan had gathered through her findings back in 2011 “roughly three-quarters of undergraduates applied for financial aid this year, up from two-thirds three years ago.” Financial problems have been a normalized issue, there is no shame in putting yourself first in having a brighter future. 

Those who don’t have this “privilege” barely make the cut. Is society dictating whether we are in need of help or not?  Although some come from a wealthier background that may not always be the case. Various students are left alone, in charge of these payments/tuition. Gollan interviewed Mr. Seman with his experience “ said he had already spent an emergency loan of $500 from the university on books and food. But faced with about $7,230 for tuition and fees this semester, roughly $1,000 more than the fall semester last year, he was back in line trying to get another loan.” It is not foreign to us that taking out loans can cause more harm than good. Towards the end of your college career you’re left with the burning burden of paying off hundreds if not more, with the non existent money you have. Forcing you to do copious amounts of work to pay the debt you’ve created for yourself. Hindering your ability to kick start your career, knowing the responsibility you have to give back every cent.

Let’s say there’s a bright chance to qualify for aid, well done. There also is the possibility it might not be enough. Here is where the challenge commences.Any plans of going to school out of state are now thrown out the window, stuck having to settle for a school here in New York. Now what? You are discouraged and have to change your course of action. Based on personal experience, I knew I wanted out but I could not do that to my parents, forcing them into paying large sums of money that I knew we didn’t have. One of the schools I had in mind was the University at Buffalo with tuition after aid costing me over $19,000 per semester. Money i dont have just lying around. Wasting my time paying back loans was not something I was heavily fond of. Gollan gets the opinion of Mr. Lopez who completely turned his life to fit his needs, learning he “raised nearly $25,000 from private donors. Also took an extra job over the summer and invited a roommate to move in last month, cutting his rent in half.” Now how is this considered living? If it isn’t rooming with someone, it is having to move back in with your parents, starting from zero. Frustration hits knowing you can not move forward. 

Both articles coincide with each other, coming together showing the cause and effects of struggles in the world of “adulthood”. Showing the behind the scenes, aspects that the average person might not have to necessarily deal with. Stress is an understatement with the extremities that most have to go through in order to achieve a successful future. Carrns and Gollan, with their work, persuade the reader in showing what could happen with the effects of aid. Though Carrns work is more recent it doesn’t take away the fact that this issue is not something recent but in fact seen throughout years, the same cycle, but it has only worsened through time. 

Something we could all relate to; the fear of wasting a portion of our lives to school we are no longer bound to. Copious amounts of stress at such a young age. Hindering our abilities to explore the real world and finding our “calling”. Paying back every month after month. Or having the fear of doing this alone and scared of the unknown. Though I’m lucky to have not had the burden of entering college whilst the pandemic was in action, I will say the consequences have not been fun. I find comfort in knowing that in the end everyone faces some sort of issue whether it’s missing out on aid, having to take out substantial amounts of aid, or feeling stressed at considering dropping everything. All this and for what, starting at the young age of 18, i’ve only just begun.

Not everyone can afford to qualify for financial aid, therefore they are left with dealing heavy amounts of payments, or they are on their own and don’t have facilities to gain such pay. Something everything we could all relate to the fear of having to waste a portion of our lives to school were no longer bound to. Hindering our abilities when trying to explore the real world and finding our “calling”.  

It intrigues me because I’m lucky enough to have financial aid covering  my tuition for my first year and second year of tuition. But I’m not too sure if this is a long term thing. Due to covid happening it hindered my father ability to continue working hence leading him to not be as financially stable and allowing me to receive full financial aid. Though this may not be the case for all, I’m fortunate enough to worry less, but the next 2 years following that are up in the air.