Do you think that ALL financial aid officers are control freaks?

I'm somewhat irritated by an experience I had yesterday. I went to my local community college to check out some courses and was advised that I should check out financial aid as there are, apparantly scholarships for "mature"women returning to college, which are not based on financial neccessity. Honestly, you would think the money was coming out of this wretched women's own pocket! I simply asked if there was a list of scholarships, and she refused to give it to me. In fact, all she could say was "you have to fill out this form first", over and over again. You'd think this was classified information (it's not - I eventually got it off their website). What really bugged me about the whole thing is that while I can can afford to say "forget it" the vast majority of individuals are at these people's mercy. I'm currently trying to decide whether to just let it go, or take it to a higher authority.

If nothing else it reaffirmed my feeling that anything I can do to stay away from the bureaucratic side of the "college experience" will be to my advantage.

Jennifer

 

Financial Aid Officer !

 

Officer!!! All that power...

I would probably just "let it go." Apply for the money... get the money... and get an education.

Don't sweat the small stuff from small people.

 

Actually, me too, the point really is not about the money for me (I've decided they can stick it) but that people like this shouldn't be allowed to get away with such behaviour, as most people aren't in my situation. I just can't decide if what I feel is a "moral imperative" or, if I'm just being bloody minded!

I just HATE bureaucrats and tin-pot hitlers.

Jennifer

 

And then there was the woman who was the 'gatekeeper' at the entrance to the GED exam room, who told my then-15-year-old daughter (with proper paperwork in hand) that she could not go in, because she was too young. Susannah said she would like to ask the supervisor (visible in the room), and this woman thrust her crutch across the doorway, barring entry to all. Thankfully, Susannah was already skilled in dealing with tinpot Hitlers, and the ensuing commotion brought the supervisor over, and she was admitted (and passed). (Apparently, at that time anyway, the GED people rounded off ages, the way life insurance companies do, and the fact that she was more than 15 1/2 made her 16 for the regulations.)

But one should not need assertiveness training to deal with simple academic (and other) processes.

 

Whether or not one needs it, polite assertiveness is in the best interest of the student, especially the student in a distance learning situation. Much as I want to give all my students the best of my attention in every single instance, I can't. I'm not only out numbered, at times I'm jumping through administrative hoops that would leave most of you numb with disbelief. A gentle reminder from a student to keep their name, and the promise I've made them, fresh in my mind, is never out of order in my book. Sometimes I've long since dealt with what they've needed and sometimes, despite my best intentions, they've slipped to the slower-track "do immediately" pile and I need a reminder to follow up, yet again, on whatever it is the student needs.

Mind you, this does not include having a spouse call and harrange on a daily basis because a pay raise is dependent on the posting of the degree, or using the phone or email as an instrument of verbal abuse "just to make sure you'll remember me next time," or going presidential because you feel you'll get better service if the person at the top demands instead of the student requesting.

I don't know where the financial aid clerk was coming from in her insistance the prospective student had to fill out the forms before she received additional information but I'd be willing to bet she's been yelled at more than once because a student claimed no one told them they had to file the financial aid form to receive financial aid. Our financial aid office claims their biggest problem is students not returning, signed, the paperwork necessary for them to file for the financial aid with the offices they deal with. Guess what the first question is they ask if a student's financial aid award hasn't been processed?

College is a bureaucracy, bricks or distance learning. Take a deep breath and do whatever you have to do to get where you need to go. As anyone who's ever gone for an advanced degree would be likely to tell you, if you want the degree, you're just going to have to play the game.

 

Never having filled out a financial aid application, I'm speculating.

But were you directing your questions to the right person? I believe that many schools have a financial aid counselor to answer questions. Did you demand answers from some clerical assistant working the front desk, whose job it was to process applications subsequent to a counseling appointment?

And is it the policy at the school you approached to have everyone fill out an aid application, and then try to match the applicant to whatever aid program best fits?

I have an old CSUDH catalog. They offer their on-campus students scholarships, grants, loans and work programs. There must be a hundred scholarships available. Some are pretty esoteric: for example the Cheyvonne Moore Memorial Grant provides financial assistance to a supermarket checker who will be entering CSUDH.

My point is that it probably isn't easy for somebody to just tell you whether there is an aid program that you would qualify for, without their knowing a lot about you and your background. Hence the need for an interview or a questionaire.

 

Yes, you make some good points. I really think it was a case of an individual who knew what she was going to say and was going to keep on saying it, come hell or high water. I wouldn't have minded a questionaire, or an appointment with a financial counselor. Unfortunately, the only form that was offered was the FAFSA, and that, having reviewed it, speaks only to income. All I wanted was a dialogue about the best way to proceed but she was way too rigid (or unimaginative) to do that.

What really irritated me was her attiutude, as compared to the four other people I had dealt with there. Being pleasant costs nothing, and frankly, "front line" staff should be aware of this.

Oh well, perhaps she was just having a bad day, although I don't think you could get that sour attitude without a LOT of practice!

Jennifer

 

Jennifer: Being pleasant costs nothing, and frankly, "front line" staff should be aware of this.

John: Indeed. I rushed into the emergency room at the local hospital late Monday night, on learning of a family member having been brought in* and said, "I'm here to see about..." Man at desk says with sneer: "And hello to you, too."

________
*all is probably OK

 

I've been looking for a source of financial aid for fat, balding, extremely late forties male lawyers seeking engineering degrees in order to become fabulously wealthy patent attorneys. Did I mention lazy and not too bright?
Non need based, please. Also non merit based, of course.

Nosborne, who has no discernable merit, academic or otherwise.

 

Nosborne, can you get one for me too!