Research Paper Rough Draft
When we think back to our high school days, many people are always able to recall memories that have stuck with them for some time. Thinking back to my experiences prior to college, senior year is a year that stuck out to me the most. Aside from your typical memorable events such as prom, graduation, homecoming, etc., I can remember meetings that I had with my senior counselors. I spoke about college and my future plans and made arrangements for college fairs to attend with my family. We touched upon the topic of paying for my undergraduate career, and of course I did not really delve into the topic because at that moment I did not realize that I would have to figure much of the finances out on my own. I am a first generation college student, and none of my parents have even dealt with college applications, tuitions, loans, etc. They were just as informed on the topic of financing college as I was; which was almost completely uninformed. When settling on Rutgers University I definitely did feel a little discouraged because of the fact that I did not know how I was going to finance 4 years in such a costly institution. I was introduced to financial aid and what it was, but again I did not have much knowledge on it.
Come freshman year, I am then bombarded with all these programs and seminars that are meant to help me figure out how to get by in Rutgers as far as academics, finances, extra curricular activities, etc. Although there are all these resources and programs being introduced to me, it was very overwhelming because of the fact that I was new to the Rutgers community, meaning I really did not know how to take advantage of them to the best of my ability. This caused me to leave these programs in the back burner, and not really focus on them or what they had to offer. As time goes by, I never went back to thinking of those things that were introduced to me during the beginning—financial help resources being one of them. This is an issue that affects all freshmen and prospective students. Because we are flooded with all these things during one time, we do not really pay much mind to them and take advantage of them—especially if this is your first time attending college, and your parents’ first time dealing with college as well. As time passes and the realization of how costly it is to actually attend Rutgers University, I start to get discouraged; especially seeing my parents worry about the same issues. This discouragement is something that affects people in many different ways. In my case it prevented me from properly researching ways to help my family and I with our financial problems. I wanted a quick resolution to these issues but that was unrealistic.
My initial goal with this project was to make the transition from high school and having free education, to being in college and having to pay, a lot easier and smoother for families who are being exposed to it for the first time. I wanted to do this by exposing them to the options and resources that are available to them in a less overwhelming manner. I really feel like having my options presented to me in a more personal manner, with people really taking the time to break down my options, explain what everything means, and guide me in a way, resonates with me a lot better than being flooded with emails and flyers of people telling me what they do. In a study done on Financial Aid, researcher Judith Scott-Clayton explains that “[e]vidence is mounting that simple, low- to modest-cost coaching interventions that reach out to students during the summer after high school and throughout the first year of college can have substantial effects on enrollment and persistence. For example, in a series of randomized experiments, Castleman, Page, and Schooley (2014) found that text messaging, peer mentoring, and proactive outreach were all successful at reducing summer melt…” (Clayton 11).
Plan:
For this project, my plan is to focus on students who are discouraged by college expenses, struggling with funding, or unaware of college funding programs. I plan on putting these students directly in contact with current undergrads/alumnae, who are willing to shed some light on financially surviving college. There are always resources online to try and guide people and give tips and information, however what better way to really get the gist of things that to hear it directly from someone who has been in your shoes. This is to promote research and provide encouragement for those who cannot fund their college careers as easily as others. My long-term goal is to minimize the amount of students who discontinue their studies or choose not to further their education after high school, due to financial reasons. → However, I intend to minimize my expenses a much as possible. To begin this project I’d first have to:
1. Put together a group of volunteers willing to be part of a panel for undergraduate and incoming students as well as their families. Volunteers must be current college seniors or graduates. I will promote this project through flyers and social media in order to find volunteers this will include:
1. Printing out flyers and posting them throughout Campus, and Public spots such as (malls, stores, restaurants, libraries, etc.) → these will provide prospective volunteers with my contact information and a little insight of the program
2. Promotion through social media will also be essential; so I will be posting information on facebook and twitter, as well as creating an instagram page specifically for my event → and again each will have my contact information and insight on the intended program
2. Once I get a group of volunteers willing to participate, I will reserve free common spaces (such as library conference rooms, conference room on campus, etc.) for the event/s
. Libraries have free areas available for meetings/group discussion events that are available to the public as long as you reserve a room
a. Many Coffee shops/local venues have free room that they allow to be reserved for meetings and such
b. Classrooms on campus are always an option for programs and events, for free, as long as you reserve them
1. Promote the panel event through the same means listed in step one, this time providing information and location of the event
2. There will be two different sessions available that you could attend → this is in an attempt to be flexible and allow potential attendees options to attend
. Each event will have paper packets for the attendees listing different resources they can utilize, advisors and people they can contact to speak and seek guidance, and websites that provide more funding information (scholarships, grants, etc.). They will also highlight programs within all universities that minimize your costs, such as Resident Assistant programs that provide free housing, many sports programs that provide financial support (i.e. football, basketball, baseball, etc.). And they will also highlight programs just as EOF, Work Study, and other programs intended to aid in college students finances → about 40 packets per session
a. Each program will have light refreshments and snacks for the attendees (water bottles, coffee, chips, and bagels)
Price: Costs will include:
· Printing flyers to find volunteers
· About 500 flyers at $0.11/pg at staples printing = $55.00
· Printing flyers to promote the program
· About 500 flyers at $0.11/pg at staples printing = $55.00
· Printing paper packets for the event sessions
· 5-10 pages per packet; $0.11/pg at staples printing = $22.00 - $44.00
https://www.staples.com/sbd/content/copyandprint/copiesanddocuments.html
· Refreshment and snack expenses
· Nestle Pure Life Purified Water, 8-ounce mini plastic bottles (12 pack) 1.88 X 6 = $9.40
· Frito-Lay 2Go Family Fun Mix Variety Pack, (20 pack) 5.98 X 3 = $17.94
· Plain Bagels with cream cheese spread ½ Dozen 5.79 → 5 Dozen = $57.90
· Dunkin Donuts Box O’Joe Coffee (10 cups of coffee) 13.99 x 6 = $83.94
Total price estimate: $301.18 --- $323.18 per session → if we intend to do this twice a year, our budget would more or less double resulting in a cost of: $602.36 --- $646.36
Patron → Collegiate Funding Solutions (CFS) → they are a company that provides parents and families with support they need on how to properly save and fund their own or their children’s college careers. They advise you, coach, you, and provide you with information and resources that would be useful.
A reason that they would be interest in funding my program is because it would bring more recognition to the things that they do and the services that they offer. They would be one of the services listed on the packets given to the people who attend our sessions, meaning they would have more clients use their services because of this program and that is something that would definitely interest/benefit them.
Although Rutgers has many sites and people that can tell you where to look for help, they do not have programs that really connect you with others who have experienced what you are currently experiencing or what you are going to experience. This program would connect you with no only sites and places to go to look for funding (just like every other resource in the university), but they will also provide you with connections to real people who could guide you and influence your decisions and assist you. People whose experiences go hand in hand with yours and who will be able to properly guide you from prior experiences. People who hopefully you can trust to give you proper advice, rather than tips from online sites or general advisors who just lead you to sites you can look on. Research shows that “…lack of guidance has consequences for students’ decisions about whether and where to enroll. A substantial percentage of college-intending students—high school seniors who graduate on time, are accepted to college, and apply for financial aid—nonetheless fail to matriculate in the fall…(Castleman & Page, 2014).