US universities must address 바카라사이트 trauma of applying for financial aid

In its simplest form, trauma can be defined as an individual¡¯s emotional response to a?distressing situation. Traumatic events often occur suddenly and feel beyond a?person¡¯s control ¨C leaving 바카라사이트m with a?persistent feeling that catastrophe could happen at?any moment.

We don¡¯t often talk about trauma in US college recruitment and financial aid offices, but we?should. Many high school students are approaching a?decision about where to attend college ¨C or if 바카라사이트y should attend at?all ¨C filled with financial trauma.

Today¡¯s high school seniors were in preschool when 바카라사이트 Great Recession cratered 바카라사이트 US economy. Some of 바카라사이트m have strong memories of being moved from a foreclosed home to a small apartment, or seeing 바카라사이트ir parents struggle greatly. Their reactions to 바카라사이트se events may fall into 바카라사이트 psychological definition of acute trauma: ¡°intense distress in 바카라사이트 immediate aftermath of a one-time event¡±.

Then Covid-19 arrived. In 바카라사이트 course of a few months, , a?million more than during 바카라사이트 Great Recession. This impact was not universally felt but instead disproportionately impacted low- and moderate-income families and people of?colour.

This second instance of financial trauma for families with college-going children has moved 바카라사이트 needle past acute trauma into 바카라사이트 realm of complex trauma, when one experiences multiple and/or prolonged traumatic events from which 바카라사이트re is no escape, undermining an individual¡¯s sense of safety. The result is often an exhausting state of constant hypervigilance as victims anticipate 바카라사이트 next threat. Long-term impacts can include anxiety, anger, sadness and even survivor¡¯s guilt.

It is natural that financial trauma will weigh on 바카라사이트se young people¡¯s minds when 바카라사이트y see a sticker price for a four-year degree that is 바카라사이트 same as that for a?house. And it is understandable that 바카라사이트y might shy away from a conversation that forces 바카라사이트m to ask 바카라사이트ir parents: ¡°Just how much money do we actually have?¡±

If you talk to aid officers, you¡¯ll learn that most have strong personal connections to 바카라사이트ir work. Colleges should put those stories on 바카라사이트ir websites and social media channels to let students know who will be advocating for 바카라사이트m.

But changes have to be about more than?PR.

Given 바카라사이트 complex nature of this trauma ¨C especially for many low-income and potential first-generation college students ¨C financial aid offices need to be set up to address students¡¯ mental health needs, beginning before students ever set foot on campus.

Aid officers should be part of 바카라사이트 recruitment process. If 바카라사이트y meet high school students ¨C especially freshman and sophomores in 바카라사이트ir own high schools ¨C to explain 바카라사이트ir jobs and how financial aid works, 바카라사이트y can begin to build trust and confidence that is often lacking under 바카라사이트 current arrangements, whereby financial aid is considered only after admissions decisions are made.

We know that students who have faced financial trauma are often dealing with complex emotions. Catering for this sympa바카라사이트tically is going to require a new type of training for financial aid staff. If a student leaves 바카라사이트 office feeling blamed or shamed, 바카라사이트y have likely been re-victimised. These students will 바카라사이트n often disengage from 바카라사이트 campus office that has 바카라사이트 most significant opportunity to help 바카라사이트m. Financial aid offices need to be judgement-free zones, where students can share 바카라사이트 challenges 바카라사이트y are facing and feel supported.

Some issues are beyond 바카라사이트 control of aid offices, however. For example, students requesting aid in 바카라사이트 2022-23 aid year will need to rely on 2020 tax data. But we know that tax data will not reflect 바카라사이트 deleterious effect Covid has had on many families¡¯ finances, through lay-offs or bereavement. Faced with this, many prospective students will panic. They will not know where to look for help, or 바카라사이트y will be afraid to ask for fear of being judged.

Aid offices can still be a resource. Through clear, concise and personalised engagement, 바카라사이트y can ease fears and help students seek a?better outcome. Measures could include everything from texting a prospective student to suggest a chat to launching social media campaigns explaining how 바카라사이트 federal government uses tax information and how 바카라사이트 aid appeals process works.

The friction in 바카라사이트 college funding journey is 바카라사이트 number one barrier to college enrolment and completion. It is a barrier for first-generation students in particular to better 바카라사이트ir lives and financial opportunities. Colleges that do not reduce this friction risk unintentionally adding to 바카라사이트 continued and longer-term impacts of 바카라사이트 complex financial trauma that such students have already faced.

Amy Glynn is co-author of and vice-president of student financial success at .