And there it is, the announcement we have all been dreading. “Gorham schools will continue remote learning for the rest of the school year,” said Superintendent Heather Perry in a recent blog post.
While this is impacting all students and families in a significant way, my heart especially goes out to high school seniors and their parents. The last few months of senior year are normally filled with celebrations and special events to mark the achievement of hard work for the past 13 years.
It’s normally a time of excitement as college decisions are being made, prom gowns are being chosen, and graduation parties are in full planning mode. Senioritis, a common condition at this time of year, has typically set in by now.
This year, instead, high school seniors (and parents too) are grappling with a “new normal” and now having to come to grips with the reality of this bittersweet time being overshadowed by a virus that has changed everything.
First, let me say to all high school seniors that I’m sorry that your prom has been cancelled, that you can’t participate for the very last time in your spring sports and coveted senior games marking the end of an era, that you won’t be able to walk across stage and receive your high school diploma in front of all your family and friends in June as initially planned, and that admitted student days at colleges have been cancelled preventing you from that visit that would likely help you make your college decision.
May 1, national college decision day, is almost here. Not being able to get back onto college campuses (or even visiting for the first time) as you make your college decisions is tough. For many students, visiting colleges for their admitted student’s days is what helps them “seal the deal.” There are a few things you can do instead.
I recommend reaching out to the head of the academic department for the major you are interested in and asking to set up a zoom call so that you can ask questions about the program and get a better feel for it. I also suggest trying to connect with student organizations on campus of interest to you. You could ask the department head (or the student advising office) who to contact. Connecting with some other students on campus virtually and asking questions about their on-campus experience could prove helpful during this important decision-making time.
Also, there’s a great website, www.campusreel.org, that has over 15,000 student-generated videos of colleges across the U.S. These videos will give some authentic and honest insight into the college you are interested in.
Parents, your financial situation might look very different than it did just a month ago before coronavirus (COVID-19). It’s crucial that you notify each and every financial aid office if you or your spouse has lost your job or income as a result. They can use this change in financial circumstances to re-evaluate the financial aid offer.
If nothing has changed for you financially, you can still appeal your son or daughter’s financial aid offer if it is out of reach financially for you. It’s important to check the appeal guidelines at each college prior to doing this. A lot of the private colleges have more flexibility in awarding additional money as a result of an appeal than public institutions do.
Use this extra time at home to search for scholarships. There are a ton of scholarships out there, but students don’t always take the time to search and apply for them, as it is tedious. Every junior and senior in high school and current college student should be searching for scholarships throughout the year. It could mean thousands more dollars in free money to help pay for college.
The busiest scholarship deadline season of the year is January through May, so focusing on this for the next 30 days especially could really make a difference financially. Anyone can access my free Scholarships 101 webinar on my YouTube channel (The FAFSA Guru) to learn how to effectively search for and find scholarships.
Hang in there and don’t be too hard on yourself as you navigate all the feelings you are struggling with. I know this is a difficult time for each and every one of you but try to stay positive and focused on your college plans. There are still so many exciting things ahead of you. One way or another, I know that our community will find a way to celebrate you.
Tina Steele is a Gorham resident with almost 30 years of experience in Higher Education. She owns The FAFSA Guru and is an Educational Consultant who assists families in navigating the overwhelming college planning, admission and financial aid process.