NPR interviewed Tally Hart, former head of financial aid at Ohio State, who currently runs outreach program for lower income students. Here are some excerpts:
- On the importance of Pell Grant as an entitlement:
When asked about recent changes in federal grants and loans, Hart says,
"The No. 1 question that students always ask is, 'Will there be money
for me to go to college?' The important part of the stimulus package is
that it stabilizes and increases Pell Grants for these students, so we
know it addresses the No. 1 concern about going on to college."
- Impact of $500 increase in Pell Grants:
Our research shows that for low-income students, an amount like $500
does make a difference. If it helps them cover more of their costs so
that their other scholarships can pay for books and they get their
transportation covered, it makes a huge difference. I think the
bigger message is that Pell Grants are going to increase rather than
decrease. Federal student loans are really secured by congressional
action. When there have been previously any discussion of federal aid
reducing, low-income students stop going to college.
- Concerns of prospective students over a change in job status for parents:
One of the things that concerns a lot of families is that the federal
system bases eligibility on their 2008 income and their parents' 2008
income. Students want to know what to do when mom or dad lost a job,
and it's important the families know that they can apply and have their
aid revised based on their 2009 circumstance.
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