Rachel Zuraff dedicated four years to preparing for the college application process, but the challenges of this admissions cycle caught her off guard.
Expressing her feelings of being overwhelmed, Zuraff, a senior at Hopkins High School who has engaged in college-level coursework, described the experience as “really rough.”
She is among the multitude of Minnesotans navigating a landscape of new initiatives introduced by university officials and government authorities, reshaping the path to college acceptance and financing. While some changes have been positively received by students, others, like delays in financial aid, have added to the complexity of the process.
“This year is truly unique,” remarked Hana Sato, a career and college coordinator at Achieve Twin Cities, an organization aiding students in Minneapolis and St. Paul in preparing for post-high school endeavors.
Minnesota is on the brink of unveiling free tuition programs at public higher education institutions for families earning less than $80,000 annually. However, the federal government’s efforts to overhaul the Free Application for Federal Student Aid have been plagued by setbacks and technological issues, leaving numerous students [ppp1].
Simultaneously, colleges are simplifying their application procedures and offering [ppp2] to eligible students, some even opting to eliminate standardized tests like the ACT and SAT. This shift comes in the wake of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that restricts the consideration of race in college admissions.
For students whose pivotal teenage years coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, navigating these changes poses additional challenges. Nora Main, president of the Minnesota Association for College Admission Counseling, highlighted the increased focus of high school counselors on guiding students to take calculated risks, such as applying to colleges, despite the fear of rejection.
“Learning to embrace appropriate risks has become more challenging,” Main noted, attributing this difficulty to the pandemic’s impact on students’ risk perception.
Despite the uncertainties, each student approaches the situation with a unique tolerance for ambiguity.
Financial Aid Challenges and Decision Delays
Hanan Sherif, a student at South High School in Minneapolis, initially enjoyed the application process, applying to various colleges out of curiosity. However, after the application deadlines passed, Sherif faced a period of waiting while the federal government [ppp3]. The subsequent rollout encountered unexpected hurdles.
Most colleges are just receiving the necessary data to determine students’ financial aid packages, leaving many families unaware of their financial obligations just weeks before the traditional May 1 decision deadline.
Reflecting on the predicament, Sherif expressed her concerns about the uncertainty surrounding her college choice and financial commitments, emphasizing the need for clarity to plan ahead effectively.
Counselors are now dedicating significant efforts to assisting students in navigating FAFSA-related queries. Families with prior college experience are grappling with potential changes in aid calculations, while first-time applicants find the process overwhelming.
Despite the current challenges, counselors advise students to remain composed and maintain communication with their preferred colleges to make informed decisions.
“We recommend that students wait to commit to a school until they have reviewed all financial aid offers,” suggested Sato from Achieve Twin Cities.
In response to the evolving circumstances, the University of Minnesota and other institutions have extended their decision deadlines to accommodate the delays and uncertainties.
Keri Risic, the admissions director, acknowledged the atypical nature of this year’s application cycle, noting the surge in applications while cautiously optimistic about the upcoming semester. However, Risic remains mindful of the potential fluctuations in the situation in the coming months.
Coping with Stress and Uncertainty
Community colleges have witnessed a different impact, with many allowing students to enroll shortly before classes commence, leading to a surge in registrations during the summer months. Despite potential FAFSA-related challenges, community college leaders emphasize the importance of keeping options open and managing stress effectively.
Libby Fahrenkamp, the director of outreach and recruitment at Inver Hills Community College, encouraged students to explore the diverse college opportunities available in Minnesota and reassured them that feeling stressed about the future is normal and doesn’t diminish the possibility of pursuing higher education.
Zuraff’s college aspirations have evolved throughout the process. Initially focused on prestigious institutions, she now aims to select a community college to fulfill her general education requirements economically before transferring to another institution. Her primary goal is to graduate debt-free, a decision influenced by observing her peers’ financial struggles with interest rates and student loans.
“My priority is to earn my degree efficiently and without financial burden,” Zuraff affirmed, emphasizing her determination to avoid the pitfalls of student debt.