by Diana Castro-Vazquez

When students are in high school, they are encouraged to think about their future and plan accordingly – what career do they want to pursue, what major to study and what school to attend? Students are encouraged to start college straight out of high school and to pursue a four-year degree, specifically a bachelor’s degree. However, there are many circumstances that affect students, deterring them from pursuing a college degree. One of these factors is their financial state.

Many students believe they need to complete their bachelor’s degree in four years, especially if they receive grants such as the Pell Grant from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students from all backgrounds attend college and come from different financial circumstances. Some students can focus only on school and have the luxury of not worrying about finances. There are students who live with their parents, but they still depend on a job for income. There are students who no longer receive financial support from their parents and are therefore their own providers. Many people who would like to attend college do not because they perceive it as unattainable due to time and financial constraints. There are also many people who believe that due to their age, they would no longer qualify for FAFSA aid.

According to the official website of the United States government for federal student aid, the Pell Grant is “usually awarded only to undergraduate students who display exceptional financial need and have not earned a bachelor’s, graduate or professional degree.” To qualify, you must first apply before the deadline set by your school for the upcoming school year. “The amount you get, though, will depend on your Student Aid Index (based on your FAFSA form), the cost of attendance (determined by your school for your specific program), your status as a full-time or part-time student and your plans to attend school for a full academic year or less.”

According to studentaid.gov, once a student is eligible for the Pell Grant and remains eligible, they can receive the Pell Grant for up to 12 semesters or roughly six years. As a student, you do have to make sure that you are meeting the requirements every semester. This opens the door for students who may need more time than the standard four years to complete their bachelor’s degree.

There are also other factors that contribute to students not completing their bachelor’s degree. One of them is grades – many students struggle with college and as a result, their grades suffer. There are many circumstances that cause a student not to get a required course at the time that it was planned with their advisor. An advisor will formulate an eight-semester plan with their advisee so that they will graduate “on time.” When your plan requires you to take a class and, for whatever reason, you do not pass it, you will have to retake it eventually. There are students who have to retake multiple courses, and eventually, they run out of “time.” These students may not be aware that they are still eligible for FAFSA grants and therefore do not apply. Then, now they are required to pay out of pocket and, as a result, owe thousands of dollars. This does not have to be the case every time – there is hope when it comes to financial aid.

This is not to say that a student should not care about their grades and deliberately not put in effort. With the Pell Grant, there are GPA requirements and minimum credit requirements that must be met. After meeting with Lindsay Latham, senior director of financial services at Greensboro College, she was able to provide more insight into the requirements that GC students need to uphold in order to keep their Pell Grant.

There are certain requirements depending on how many credits you have completed on your transcript. For freshmen, you need to maintain a 1.6 GPA; for sophomores, you need to maintain a 1.8 GPA; and for juniors and up, you need to maintain a 2.0 GPA. Additionally, there is a completion rate of credits required. For the number of credits a student is attempting in a semester, there needs to be a 67 percent completion rate. For example, if a student is registered for 12 credits, they need to complete at least 67 percent of them, which is approximately nine credits. The financial aid office in Main Building is available and encourages students to ask questions or for help regarding their financial aid.

The financial aid office works diligently throughout the year, but especially during the summer, to ensure that all students take advantage of all available financial aid opportunities. During the summer, they will contact all students who have not completed their FAFSA form. As students, it is important to keep up with your email and phone calls in case someone is trying to reach you.

Your advisor is someone you are required to meet with at least once a semester. When meeting with them, you want to have an idea of what you want your plan to look like. As a student, you need to learn how to read your degree audit and register for classes. If you are unsure about how to proceed, please reach out to your advisor. The registrar is also a resource available to students. According to the Greensboro College website, “we are here to assist our students, faculty, staff and other constituents with academic policy, their academic record, registration, transcripts, enrollment or degree verification and other such matters.” If you have any questions about which classes to take, special exemptions or deadline extensions, please do not hesitate to ask. There is no harm in asking any questions. The registrar office is located on the second floor of the Main Building.

Once you have a good understanding of how your financial aid and major works, talking to your advisor will not feel so complicated. Completing a college degree is not a straight path for everyone – it is a curvy road that differs for each student. I recommend that all students utilize the resources on campus. Financial aid has three offices located on the first floor of the Main Building, and the Registrar has three offices on the second floor. Additionally, you can contact them via email at financialaid@greensboro.edu and registrar@greensboro.edu.