The news site of Verona High School

The Fairviewer

The news site of Verona High School

The Fairviewer

The news site of Verona High School

The Fairviewer

Money Makes or Breaks Your College Decision

As seniors at VHS begin applying to college, the typical factors in determining where to apply include your grades, test scores, size, and location, but how many students factor in cost and financial aid into this very important decision?

With the cost of college tuition reaching prices of $40,000 or more yearly, financial aid is definitely something to be looked at. For most families, paying such an amount yearly is unrealistic. Colleges recognize this, and therefore provide students with financial aid, which is intended to make up the difference between what your family can afford to pay and what college costs, through the means of grants, loans, and scholarships.

These forms of aid are determined by several factors, including outstanding academic achievements and SAT scores, special talents, group affiliation, athletic abilities, leadership, need-based aid, and more.

But how are students at VHS factoring this information into their own college application process?

Emily Symons, a senior at VHS who has recently began navigating through the college application process, said “One of the first things I check when I look at a school’s website is their yearly tuition, and then, how much financial aid they provide on average.”

A majority of the VHS seniors who were asked a similar question all gave the overall impression that in addition to checking a particular school’s requirements, the cost of tuition is certainly something to be considered.

Financial aid awarded by each school can differ, ranging from hundreds of dollars, to even thousands. For most students, including VHS senior Alyssa Merwin, the amount they are rewarded can directly determine which school they choose to attend.

“The amount of financial aid I get from a school is a huge part in where I’ll decide to go” said Merwin. “If one college is offering thousands more versus another, I would most likely pick that one.”

Overall, for most VHS seniors who are applying to school, financial aid seems to be an important aspect when determining the right school for them.

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