Lissa Allen leaned forward in her chair and stared at a computer screen.
“What was your adjusted gross income?” she said aloud, reading the directions of the FAFSA financial aid form. She thumbed through a pile of financial tax documents balanced on her lap, then sorted through another stack of financial papers beside her computer.
With the global economy struggling, Allen, a laid-off warehouse worker, is among a growing number of potential students applying for financial aid.
At Everett Community College, where Allen hopes to study teaching this spring, interest in financial aid is up big time, said Laurie Franklin, director of student financial services.
Three times as many students attended a College Goal financial aid event at the school this January compared with last year. At the event, staff help families fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, a government form used to determine how much assistance students should qualify for.
Last year, about 58 percent of the students who applied for financial aid at EvCC followed through and filled out the paperwork necessary to receive the money. So far this year, it’s closer to 75 percent, Franklin said.
“We’ve noticed a huge uptick in applications for students who are not only applying for financial aid, but are serious about applying for financial aid,” Franklin said.
Allen links her quest for financial aid directly to the downturn in the economy.
In August, she says she was laid off from her job running machinery in a warehouse. A single mother with three kids, Allen looked for another job but couldn’t find anything. So, at 39, she’s going back to school.
She’s worked on production lines since she was 15 and had always dreamed of becoming a teacher, but couldn’t afford to leave work and study. Now she’s drawn to the hope of a steady paycheck that won’t disappear in a tough economy.
“I don’t want to retire from a warehouse job,” she said, sitting in EvCC’s financial aid office. “I want to study to be a teacher — that’s something I can retire from.”
Students across the country are now beginning to apply for loans, scholarships and grants that will pay for their education in the fall.
Though colleges have different deadlines, with the economy uncertain, students should apply early, said Rae Ellen Reas, senior associate dean of student enrollment and financial services at Edmonds Community College. Most schools distribute money on a first come, first served basis, she said.
Currently, there are many more students attending classes and receiving aid at EdCC than in previous winters, but that’s mainly due to a surge in laid-off workers taking retraining programs and applying for assistance, Reas said. Funds will be tight this year, but it’s too soon to tell how that will affect students, she said.
Some local banks have stopped loaning money to students, but so far all EdCC students have been able to secure loans with other banks. Reas expects the college’s grant and scholarship money to go quickly this fall.
“I’m anticipating some huge problems next year based on the budget with the state and people’s ability to donate money,” Reas said. “We just don’t know yet. It’s too early, but I’m anticipating we’ll have less money and more students.”
At the University of Washington, applications for financial aid are up about 6 percent, said Kay Lewis, director of student financial aid. More students than usual are requesting assistance midyear because of unexpected family changes, such as job loss.
Financial aid nights at the University of Washington have become more popular this year and Lewis expects an uptick in the percentage of students applying for assistance for the fall, but it’s too early to tell.
Still, prospective students shouldn’t let economic troubles keep them from applying to college. Financial aid is available — and some programs, such as the federally-backed Stafford Loans, shouldn’t be affected by the recession, said Kathleen Koch, president of the Washington Financial Aid Association and assistant dean for student financial services at Seattle University School of Law.
Though statistics aren’t available yet, Koch said she’s heard from other college financial aid officers that more students than usual are inquiring about money for college.
She advises prospective students not to be discouraged by the souring economy. Before giving up, students should speak directly with financial aid officers at the schools they’re interested in, she said.
“Sometimes I think people kind of hear something and, because of the economy, maybe they won’t pursue something — where all they need to do is double check it with the institution of their choice and they may find some reassurance,” she said. “Definitely the ability to attend college is still very much available.”
Kaitlin Manry: 425-339-3292 or kmanry@heraldnet.com.
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