Students from lower-income families aspire to college as much as their more affluent peers, but high schools and colleges should still provide targeted assistance to such families to ensure that they are better positioned to turn their college dreams into a reality.
That was one of the major recommendations made Thursday during a College Board Advocacy & Policy Center webcast of a panel discussion, titled “Complexity in the College Admission Process: Low-Income Students.”
Although survey data show that lower-income students place a higher value on higher education than their more affluent peers—for instance, 48 versus 36 percent, respectively, agreed that they need a college degree to succeed—one of the biggest areas where low-income families need help is understanding issues of affordability, panelists said.
“Higher education, we have to do more to create financial aid and assistance policies that will open access to all students,” said Arlene Cash, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Spelman College and a member of the College Board’s Admissions in the 21st Century Implementation Committee.
“(High school) counselors must figure out how to help students and parents understand the difference between what they can afford and what is expected in the college-paying process,” Cash said.
Cash shared how she has often seen how students or families of lesser means have a particular college in mind that is more costly than they can afford, and attempt to go forth on the notion that they’ll find the money “somehow,” be it through prayer or extra effort.
“Students have to have more options,” Cash said. “The more options they have on college, they may not be stuck at the end saying, ‘I had one college, and I thought we could work it out, and we can’t, so I guess I won’t go.’”
