Confusing wording on financial aid documents, not enough access to school counselors along with the limited knowledge of the counselors they can access, are just some of the barriers facing low-income and first-generation students needing critical information about college financing options, according to a new report.
The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) report, “Barriers to Successfully Financing a College Education-And How to Help Overcome Them,” highlights areas that negatively impact all high school students’ ability to get all the needed facts about paying for higher education.
Some college career professionals and school counselors do not know enough about financial aid to offer the best advice to students, according to supported by PriceWaterhouseCooper’s (PwC) Access Your Potential commitment.
According to the report, about 68 percent of school counselors feel they are well-versed in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – the first and most fundamental step in the college aid process. Just 38 percent of early-career college admissions professionals feel they are well-versed in FAFSA.
The study highlights data related to early career professionals because they are the ones who have the most interaction with students.
It is these professionals who travel to high schools and who speak with students who visit college campuses, said Heather Durosko, the assistant director of strategic initiatives, educational content and policy for the NACAC.
“It has to do with how school counselors are educated before they are hired by the schools,” said Melissa Clinedinst, associate director of research for the NACAC.
