Financial Aid Reflection
This week with seniors, I am executing small group financial aid workshops for students who needs help with the process of financial aid. Our goals with this financial aid workshop are to educate seniors with how college can be paid for and what is expected to apply for financial aid. We decided to work with smaller groups because financial aid is very overwhelming for students and we wanted to be able to give students that individual attention with the financial aid process. A financial aid verbal quiz was the first thing we did with the students, so we could get a more knowledgeable understanding of their level of knowledge on applying for financial aid. Of course, we noticed that majority of the students did not answer the true or false questions correctly. One thing that I noticed in my field training so far is students lack sever knowledge with college admissions and financial aid. Students really do not have no idea on how where to start for college admissions and financial aid. I realized as a future advisor, that I want to take on the responsibility of advocating and informing students on successfully applying for college and financial aid.
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Many students wait until their senior to start applying for college, which I believe is too late, students should start their goal planning for college no later than their junior year of high school. I asked several students that I was doing the workshop with have they even began to apply for college, more than half of the class said, “No.” In addition, to this information, I realized that majority of my students who have not applied to college was young Black and Hispanic males. I asked them why have the not applied to any college? Most of them did not know how to or where to start. Also, majority of my students are first generation students, which makes their college road even more difficult with the process because their parents may not have the knowledge to help them with the future plans. The financial aid workshop that was conducted gave high school seniors information that vital to their future success. We discussed different types of financial aid they can apply for, FASFA, where to apply, scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study. In addition to financial aid, we also discussed the differences between community colleges, public, private, two-year, and 4-year universities. Students really did not have a great concept on the differences between these types of colleges. The information that we was giving the students was detrimental to their future because ninety percent of the students’ explicitly displayed that they want to attend college. The workshops were very successful all week because we informed the students of a substantial amount of information that was useful immediately. We also started the basics with the FASFA application with the students so they can be familiar with where to go and know how it looks. The students enjoyed the workshop and wrote down the important things in their planner we passed out to them so they will have a place to put their information.
The South Suburban College Online Orientation is very helpful for students to understand the process of being successful when they are entering college.
I could have incorporated this online orientation with my workshop to give students an idea of how orientation can work at a college. The orientation discussed helpful tips that students should practice so they can be successful at school. A few examples, coming to class on-time and not being tardy constantly is one way that can help stay on track, using academic assistance center, not dropping classes or failing, and taking advantage of the schools writing and tutoring centers. This orientation video was helpful with giving students a synopsis of how to transition into college and let students understand college is for education and learning not just for
socialization.
One of my successes this week was educating students about financial aid and helping the students understand terms and the process of financial aid. Students were lacking information and knowledge about how to apply and receive financial aid. Students did not understand how they would pay for college. Helping students learn what to do and how to do it was a great accomplishment for me this week as a future advisor. Working with seniors who are about to transition into college was a rewarding feeling knowing I started the foundation for students with their financial aid process. One challenge of the week for me was working with the students on financial aid literacy. I was very overwhelmed with how many seniors who did not have knowledge on how to apply for financial aid and what they need to do to so they can have it by time they are ready to attend college. I realized that there are many high-school students who are not prepared for college and there are so many steps that they need to complete so they will be college ready.
Zhang & Rentz (2011) states, “orientation can be defined as a collaborative institutional effort to enhance student success by assisting students and their families in the transition to the new college environment” (Zhang & Rentz, pp. 294, 2011). One thing I learned from this week reading is that orientation helps students with transitioning into a new environment. High school students do not know how the environment and how colleges are operated, so orientation can give them that opportunity of what to expect when they attend college. I also learned that the institutions mission, purpose, and goals with orientation and new student programs is also to help the social integration within the environment. They explain that orientation has “powerful influences,” on students’ first year success when they attend college. Students going through orientation can increase their decision making skills, help with planning, expand their connection with other new students, and give them self-confidence with succeeding their first year. As a future advisor, I would definitely participate in orientation to help students who desire assistance. I think it is imperative for advisors to be a part of the institutions orientation so students can be familiar with working with entering students.
Many students wait until their senior to start applying for college, which I believe is too late, students should start their goal planning for college no later than their junior year of high school. I asked several students that I was doing the workshop with have they even began to apply for college, more than half of the class said, “No.” In addition, to this information, I realized that majority of my students who have not applied to college was young Black and Hispanic males. I asked them why have the not applied to any college? Most of them did not know how to or where to start. Also, majority of my students are first generation students, which makes their college road even more difficult with the process because their parents may not have the knowledge to help them with the future plans. The financial aid workshop that was conducted gave high school seniors information that vital to their future success. We discussed different types of financial aid they can apply for, FASFA, where to apply, scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study. In addition to financial aid, we also discussed the differences between community colleges, public, private, two-year, and 4-year universities. Students really did not have a great concept on the differences between these types of colleges. The information that we was giving the students was detrimental to their future because ninety percent of the students’ explicitly displayed that they want to attend college. The workshops were very successful all week because we informed the students of a substantial amount of information that was useful immediately. We also started the basics with the FASFA application with the students so they can be familiar with where to go and know how it looks. The students enjoyed the workshop and wrote down the important things in their planner we passed out to them so they will have a place to put their information.
The South Suburban College Online Orientation is very helpful for students to understand the process of being successful when they are entering college.
I could have incorporated this online orientation with my workshop to give students an idea of how orientation can work at a college. The orientation discussed helpful tips that students should practice so they can be successful at school. A few examples, coming to class on-time and not being tardy constantly is one way that can help stay on track, using academic assistance center, not dropping classes or failing, and taking advantage of the schools writing and tutoring centers. This orientation video was helpful with giving students a synopsis of how to transition into college and let students understand college is for education and learning not just for
socialization.
One of my successes this week was educating students about financial aid and helping the students understand terms and the process of financial aid. Students were lacking information and knowledge about how to apply and receive financial aid. Students did not understand how they would pay for college. Helping students learn what to do and how to do it was a great accomplishment for me this week as a future advisor. Working with seniors who are about to transition into college was a rewarding feeling knowing I started the foundation for students with their financial aid process. One challenge of the week for me was working with the students on financial aid literacy. I was very overwhelmed with how many seniors who did not have knowledge on how to apply for financial aid and what they need to do to so they can have it by time they are ready to attend college. I realized that there are many high-school students who are not prepared for college and there are so many steps that they need to complete so they will be college ready.
Zhang & Rentz (2011) states, “orientation can be defined as a collaborative institutional effort to enhance student success by assisting students and their families in the transition to the new college environment” (Zhang & Rentz, pp. 294, 2011). One thing I learned from this week reading is that orientation helps students with transitioning into a new environment. High school students do not know how the environment and how colleges are operated, so orientation can give them that opportunity of what to expect when they attend college. I also learned that the institutions mission, purpose, and goals with orientation and new student programs is also to help the social integration within the environment. They explain that orientation has “powerful influences,” on students’ first year success when they attend college. Students going through orientation can increase their decision making skills, help with planning, expand their connection with other new students, and give them self-confidence with succeeding their first year. As a future advisor, I would definitely participate in orientation to help students who desire assistance. I think it is imperative for advisors to be a part of the institutions orientation so students can be familiar with working with entering students.