Students stand in line at the Financial Aid Office. Photo by Gia Cognata
Most students are eager for that finacial aid check to be mailed to them before school starts. The money is needed for books, supplies, and other necessities. Students who turn in their application on time usually receive their financial aid within the first couple of weeks prior to school, but others get frustrated with financial aid services because they do not receive their financial aid within the first weeks of school. Some have even dropped their classes.
“Since I haven’t received my financial aid on time I’ve had to drop a lot of my courses because I cannot afford the textbooks and materials that are required of me to buy, it’s very frustrating,” said J.R Byrd, 21, graphic design major. Byrd has been a student in Mt. SAC since 2008, but has noticed that financial aid has been a little slower than when he first started here as a student.
According to Director of Financial Aid Susan Jones, for the year of 2010-2011 there were 34,000 financial applications submitted. She said, “I am sure we are going to exceed last year’s number.”
Jones said that the problem stems from students who file too late and turn in documentations late.
“We cannot review the applications until all the documents are turned in. What happens is that students wait until school starts and then decide to get serious in turning in all their documents,” Jones said.
There are only eight specialists reviewing applications and making corrections for over 30,000 applicants. Jones said that the staff is busy all year long reviewing applications. Sometimes specialists work overtime to try and get through as many applications as possible.
Jacinta Quintanar, 17, journalism major, and Sergio Gonzalez, 23, history major, agreed that there needs to be more organization within the financial aid services.
Quintanar said, “They should find some kind of solution perhaps get them more training, or get financial aid to do a different process that will work.”
Gonzalez agreed: “Financial aid should set up a better organized system than what’s in place.”
Jones said the department is working on getting more organized. A system for financial aid has been set up to start in the winter to help students receive their funds more quickly. “We are planning to have the debit card system, we plan to test this program in the winter session, and have it in place in the spring if it works out, it will help get the fundings to students quicker,” Jones said.
Jones recommended that students check their portals regularly and daily to know how their financial aid is coming along and to see if there are any problems that are holding a student from receiving their funds.
She said that financial aid services are doing their best to get every single student their funds because they know how much a student needs that money.
Jones, who has worked as director of financial aid for the past 37 years, said she has seen financial aid transform drastically from when she first started. “Students should be prepared be proactive not reactive after school starts.” She said applications are available starting Jan. 1 and by April students should be checking their portals.
“The earlier they file for financial aid the better and greater the chances are their financial aid will be in place by the time they start school,” Jones said.
- Kristina Gonzalez
Managing Editor
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