Despite The Recession There Are Still Billions For College

Tag : college education
Wednesday, 16 July 2008 SAN BERNARDINO


"Yes, the nation is in an economic crisis," agrees BolaSoyemi, Director of Student Financial Services for the ArtInstitute of California - Inland Empire. "But funds forcollege are still available. It's just that parents and studentsdon't realize it."
Students considering an education at an Art Institute school mostlikely have a definite career goal, as the education they providefocuses on training people to work in creative fields. But, as withalmost all careers, these students need to prepare for their goalswith a college education.
"I hope to have a job doing what I love, so when I awaken eachmorning my job is something more of an adventure, rather thansomething to just pay the bills," said Alurra Hughes, a seniorat Redlands High School who hopes to attend The Art Institute ofCalifornia -- Inland Empire after graduation.
Alurra seized a great opportunity earlier this year, when sheentered and won The Art Institute of California --Inland Empire'sannual poster contest. She has already won a $3,000 scholarship,and has an opportunity to increase that amount to a fullscholarship if she wins a competition of first-place winners fromparticipating schools of The Art Institutes.
But even if she doesn't win the full scholarship, the financial aidstaff of The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire will helpAlurra find the resources she needs to pursue a degree at theirschool. They did the same two years ago for Alyssa Mees, who is nowone of the school's first graduates and works full-time in herdream job as a graphic designer.
The Art Institute of California -- Inland Empire has helped most ofthe more than 750 current students put together financial aidpackages so that they too can pursue their education and careergoals.
In some cases, Soyemi states, parents aren't clear on the value andopportunities a higher education provides. This leads to a lack ofparental support and commitment towards sending a child to college.
"I believe that more families should change their mindsettowards education and embrace the opportunities that come withhaving a college degree," Soyemi said. "The opportunitiesdo come with cost, of course, but funds for college are stillavailable."
On the Internet, Google's search engine spells it out. There arefive million hits under "scholarship search," two and ahalf million sites for "student financial aid" and in ourstate alone there are 700,000 sites under "California studentfinancial aid."
The United States Department of Education provides more than $83billion in loans and non-repayable grants for higher education.That makes up fully 60 percent of the nation's student aid funding.More than nine million students are dependent on this aid for theircollege education. And, experts point out, millions of availabledollars go unused every single year.
Soyemi, who heads a staff of 10, says, "Approximately 90percent of the students at our school were on some financial aidprogram last year, ranging from hundreds of dollars in support tomany thousands." These might take the form of federal, stateor institution grants, depending on current budget allocations.
"My biggest task," Soyemi adds, "is encouragingstudents and their parents to not disqualify themselves by simplyfailing to apply for aid. Particularly the parents, who may notrealize that funds are available."
"All the student or parents have to do to start the financialplanning process is go to any college or university financial aidoffice and fill out the FAFSA form. That stands for FreeApplication for Federal Student Aid. Then you simply ask what elseis available."
Every year The Art Institute of California -- Inland Empire givesover $150,000 in scholarships from $3,000 to $15,000 each. Fordetails, go to www.artinstitutes.edu/Admissions/FinancialAid.aspx
There might be scholarships from local businesses or serviceorganizations, state supplied grants, funds from the college itselfand numerous student loan programs in which interest rates are lowand repayment doesn't begin until the education years arecompleted.