We’ve reached the time of year when college applications and finding financial aid begins to overwhelm seniors. However, one group of students struggle more than most: those from low-income families. The expenses of college itself are common knowledge, but many are unaware of the high cost of college preparation.
The first step in pursuing a college is applying, but even this initial step includes application fees, which can range from $20-90 depending on the university. According to U.S News and World Report, the average college application fee is $43.
In addition, touring campuses is an important step to determine if a college is a good fit. However, touring a campus requires students and their parents to take time off of work. If a student is interested in a college outside of Bowling Green, they have to set aside money for gas and a hotel depending on how far away the college is. This loss of money can drain a low-income household’s budget.
Low-income students also have a disadvantage in filling out college and scholarship applications. Low income students may need a job to sustain their family, which limits their time to work on their applications. Students who do not have WiFi or a computer at home have shortened available time to write long essays and complete applications. This may lead to students being unable to take advantage of all available opportunities.
Low-income students endure a harder path in obtaining the activities and scores that give them access to scholarships because of activity fees required to participate. Low-income students also held back from taking the ACT multiple times to get a higher score due to the $50 processing fee. Finally, many low-income students cannot afford professional tutoring and do not receive help from their parents who do not know how to help them with their college search process.
Ultimately, these students must take out student loans in order to pay for the costs of attendance, all too often leaving them in debt for decades to come.
Thankfully, Destiny O’Rourke, Bowling Green High’s College and Career Readiness Coach, offers several opportunities for low-income students, encouraging those experiencing financial hardship to reach out for help. Many BGHS faculty members are eager to help low-income students with opportunities throughout their college preparation like Kristen Tinch’s free ACT Bootcamp. O’Rourke also urges students to reach out with their financial needs, saying, “We can provide waivers for college applications and the ACT.” She also provides students with opportunities to use computers to complete applications and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) during the school day and Open Lab Days. She recommends that students build a solid plan for their future and self-advocate, saying, “Things will not magically fall into place, but getting into and paying for college is not an insurmountable task, especially for high-achieving low-income students.”
The first step in pursuing a college is applying, but even this initial step includes application fees, which can range from $20-90 depending on the university. According to U.S News and World Report, the average college application fee is $43.
In addition, touring campuses is an important step to determine if a college is a good fit. However, touring a campus requires students and their parents to take time off of work. If a student is interested in a college outside of Bowling Green, they have to set aside money for gas and a hotel depending on how far away the college is. This loss of money can drain a low-income household’s budget.
Low-income students also have a disadvantage in filling out college and scholarship applications. Low income students may need a job to sustain their family, which limits their time to work on their applications. Students who do not have WiFi or a computer at home have shortened available time to write long essays and complete applications. This may lead to students being unable to take advantage of all available opportunities.
Low-income students endure a harder path in obtaining the activities and scores that give them access to scholarships because of activity fees required to participate. Low-income students also held back from taking the ACT multiple times to get a higher score due to the $50 processing fee. Finally, many low-income students cannot afford professional tutoring and do not receive help from their parents who do not know how to help them with their college search process.
Ultimately, these students must take out student loans in order to pay for the costs of attendance, all too often leaving them in debt for decades to come.
Thankfully, Destiny O’Rourke, Bowling Green High’s College and Career Readiness Coach, offers several opportunities for low-income students, encouraging those experiencing financial hardship to reach out for help. Many BGHS faculty members are eager to help low-income students with opportunities throughout their college preparation like Kristen Tinch’s free ACT Bootcamp. O’Rourke also urges students to reach out with their financial needs, saying, “We can provide waivers for college applications and the ACT.” She also provides students with opportunities to use computers to complete applications and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) during the school day and Open Lab Days. She recommends that students build a solid plan for their future and self-advocate, saying, “Things will not magically fall into place, but getting into and paying for college is not an insurmountable task, especially for high-achieving low-income students.”
By Olivia Johnson