<p>"The nation's most elite colleges and universities have in recent years added numerous programs to help students from low-income backgrounds enroll. And at many such institutions, low-income students would not need to pay anything, or would have to make only very small contributions to the annual tab. So why, at some of these institutions, is one more likely to find a student with a second home than one with a Pell Grant?" ...</p>
<p>More talented low-income students need to find CC.</p>
<p>Not surprising. First, their families probably have never gone to college and can’t fathom the cost of college or have little interest in the process. When even college educated people here state that they are restricting their kids to state schools because of cost, there is just a general misunderstanding of the process. Add to that, most of the lower income students attend schools where just making it through the day safely is a big deal, little time is spent on “going to college” by the GC. Where are they to turn for help? When they see $60,000 to attend Harvard and their family makes $20,000, if that, no way would they consider going there unless they are lucky to have a GC, teacher, etc. that KNOWS better for them.</p>
<p>You also have to add in that there are costs involved in going to college beyond tuition and room and board. Even transportation can big a big cost for a poor family.</p>
<p>I agree with Steve. We have students in our school who could do more (and guidance usually tells them this), but the parents are often the deciding factor. Many times they do not feel college is “worth it” and some will not even fill out the FAFSA - just because. Some will only consider community colleges or places where junior can live at home. It can be pretty depressing, esp for the student who would like to go places and do things.</p>
<p>I find this subject so dis-heartening. Kids in middle class areas being told by guidance counselors not to worry about the cost of college, when they should. Kids in low SES areas not even getting the information in order to use their minds to capacity.</p>
<p>It goes to show that the way a family thinks is so influential in the way a kid pursues his or her future. </p>
<p>At the community college where I volunteer with some of these kids, I think I am sometimes the first person who has ever said to them, “Okay, so what’s next? What do we need to do to get the ball rolling on your apps for four year schools?”</p>
<p>It’s been gratifying to get some of these kids, really brilliant and undereducated kids, off to the state flagship. I would really encourage anyone who has even an hour a week to do this if you can.</p>
<p>Yes, it is rewarding to get the idea of college into a student. I agree that some of is is cuture, fear, and the other expenses. I know one low income first generation and very talented student. Her mom is extremely proud and at the same time is just terrified of her child being far from home. As parents, we all feel this way, but for the parent who has not experienced this, it is overwhelming. The young person needs encouragement, but the parents need support too.
The other concern is the added expense of transportation. If she goes far away, she won’t be able to travel home as much. Her mom is behind her 100% but without the finances to travel, letting go is a bigger deal for her.</p>
<p>Don’t underestimate the fact that in some social classes, going to college is “uppity” and snobby and for people who think they are All That. It may cover up insecurity, but nonetheless, there you have it.</p>
<p>There is no need to travel though. Every state has top notch colleges. Many colleges do include travel costs in these situations. It shouldn’t be a concern but again, lack of knowledge doesn’t help.</p>
<p>Pizzagirl–very true, very true. Not even college, but doing well in high school has a ‘shame’ factor for some groups of people. They will accuse these kids of being “too white” and shun them.</p>
<p>I think this is primarily due to ignorance. At least in my case it was. My wife and I went to a private college funding advisor when our twins were sophmores in HS. Money well spent! I would not have imagined then that sending our daughter to University of Richmond would cost less than sending our son to Millersville ¶ University. College admissions have changed since 1978. We had no understanding FAFSAs, EFCs and COAs. We did not know how to see how much aid various schools provide and how much of that aid is “free money”. </p>
<p>While we find that the money we spent to learn this paid for itself the first semester of college, this should be free information provided by high schools. All high schools should be giving seminars to parents and students during freshman year so they can prepare for the next four years. College can be affordable if you know the rules of the game.</p>
<p>I could talk about this from personal experience as a low income child, but it would mean dredging up too many painful memories better left on the shelf. And that itself is statement enough.</p>
<p>PAVenturer–None of those have changed, except back in the dark ages the FAFSA was called the FFA and you used a pencil to fill in the circles vs doing it online. There were still EFC’s and COA’s, they were just on paper in the college literature vs being available online. I remember filling out what is now called the EFC, again, on paper, like a tax form, back in the dark ages. The internet has just changed HOW we do those things and makes the information more readily available. I knew full well, back then, that private schools often come in less than state schools having gone through the process for myself. I think in your case, guessing anyway, that your parents probably did the financial side of college and were aware of these things even if you were not.</p>
<p>@Steve - I am sure you must be right. I have no memory of going through that so dad must’ve taken care of the details. The in state price of the UC system then also made a lot of that irrelevant.</p>
<p>I don’t think you can ignore that fact that some of these low income kids do not want to go to an “elite” school because of social pressures and it would be such a culture shock. I will say that my own dd coming from a very middle class family had no desire to apply to an “elite” school because she just didn’t think she would fit in. </p>
<p>Now, it is a shame that they are not introduced to closer to home very good schools but sometimes those - even with merit money - are still too expensive.</p>
<p>From personal experience (back in the dark ages) I know that I didn’t even consider applying to out of state colleges because I knew we couldn’t afford it. Back in the day we really didn’t have much information on financial aid, and I wasn’t going to ask my parents to spend what they didn’t have.</p>
<p>I went to a local CC then the last 2 years at the local state university. Lived at home, worked part time. I got a good education, but looking back there was so much opportunity I missed.</p>
<p>Hopefully these kids can do so much more research with the internet and counselors who are invested in their future. I never even met with my counselor to talk about college–there was a big binder with a list of scholarship opportunities. You were pointed toward the binder and that was my counseling.</p>
<p>Sub-head: Study authors invent problem that requires more funding. </p>
<p>Its not like these kids arent going to college- they are going to colleges that authors dont approve of because they arent highly selective or “reach”. It might be nice to apply to a reach school but it certainly isnt necessary. Moreover being in the top decile with a 3.something GPA wont get you into a top school. </p>
<p>And of course their is no attempt to factor in the athletic ambitions of the kids. </p>
<p>And maybe these kids are smart enough to realize that there are a lot of ancillary expenses associated with going to a non-local school- flights, cars etc. Or maybe it would help colleges get real and say what their true tuition price is upfront instead of after you apply and get a lot of phony ‘aid package’ discounts.</p>
<p>Anyone with access to the paper site can tell us how many kids are involved?</p>
<p>It may be lack of a mentor or a judgment on the college. Some “less prestigious” schools may have grant money and support for first generation low income students that includes mentorship and other support beyond financial aid. These schools still offer an excellent education. Then there is the social support of being closer to home. Still, I think students can be better informed of what choices are out there, so that they can choose.</p>
<p>There are highly talented kids of all income groups who do not apply to top colleges. Many prefer to stay in their home states/regions near family and friends, where they will build better local professional connections at state u.
Do not underestimate the degree to which travel expenses/time/inconvenience, and preference for their own local culture “discourage” bright students from applying to elite colleges.<br>
Many students truly prefer to stay in their comfort zones–and you can’t say that is unfortunate or the wrong choice for them.</p>
<p>I read an article recently about a similar situation in the UK, where Oxford and Cambridge are encountering difficulty in raising their percentage of low-income minority students despite offers of admission and funding. The big reason for these students turning down Oxbridge was a feeling that attendance would alienate them from their roots. There was a fear of being cut off from the culture and background of the family. The students feared rejection by their community of origin and believed that they would never be truly accepted by the “higher ups.” It’s not just about money.</p>
<p>I think those of us who are Internet-savvy assume that others are too, and thus we underestimate the information gap. I’ve seen plenty of well-off kids who didn’t have very good information about college options, so I have to believe that many poorer kids have even less.</p>