Page 28 - BusinessWest February 7, 2022

Darcey Kemp says efforts to help students manage college costs begin well before they arrive
on campus and continue through their time at STCC.
Gross, vice president of Enrollment Management and Marketing at Western New England Univer- sity. “There’s always a combination of merit-based and need-based money that goes into it.”
Kerry Cole, vice president for Admissions at AIC, noted that all colleges offer merit scholar- ships based on a student’s GPA and other mea- sures of high-school success. “They would receive it for all four years, as long as they’re successful progressing in the program. Every school has dif- ferent guidelines students need to hit, but it’s usu- ally pretty attainable for most students, in addi-
“Almost all families enrolling in college do not pay that sticker price. There’s always a combination of merit-based and need-based money that goes into it.”
tion to federal or other institutional aid.”
In addition, she noted, “students may find it
less expensive to go to private school, because
of the aid award, than it is to go to a state school. When I was going through 20-plus years ago, that’s exactly what happened. I was a low-income student, had high academics, and was able to attend a private school and live on campus for the equivalent cost of a state school. A lot of people don’t know that until financial-aid time.”
On the admissions side, Gross added, “it’s really important for families to understand that
different colleges and uni- versities have different ways they evaluate the family’s financial circumstances.” For example, some schools are ‘need-aware’ in crafting the merit package, incor- porating a family’s ability to pay, while others, including AIC, are ‘need-blind’ when they award financial-aid packages.
Merit decisions are based on more than grades, too; schools also consider standardized test scores — although these are starting to recede in importance, and many colleges are even test-optional now — as well as extracurricular activities, volunteerism, letters of rec- ommendation, and more.
And that’s just the start of what families need to know about paying for col-
lege — a process that can be
confusing and intimidating, but is also rife with opportunities to shave down that sticker price even further.
Guiding Lights
Community colleges offer a less-daunting price tag to begin with, but that doesn’t mean the process of seeking aid and paying for school is any less thorny. Darcey Kemp, vice president of Student Affairs at Springfield Technical Com-
munity College, said STCC guides entering students and their families through a robust onboarding process.
“We do an initiative called Roadmap to STCC, a series of live webinars with students, parents, and guidance counselors on different topics over the course of the year, depending on the time of year it is,” she explained, noting that topics range from testing and placement to financial-aid dead- lines and filling out the Free Application for Fed- eral Student Aid (FAFSA).
At MBK, we are more than just tax advisors. We work with you to understand your business objectives, personal goals and fiduciary responsibilities. We use our in-depth knowledge to develop effective, proactive strategies to put you in the most tax advantageous position possible. And we’re here for you all year long—not just during tax season.
413-536-8510 | mbkcpa.com
28 FEBRUARY 7, 2022
EDUCATION
BusinessWest