Your point about an “uninterrupted environment†is important; students often want to ignore details or put off thinking about loans until graduation. We know that this is a bad choice, so we try to provide information in an interesting and engaging way and demonstrate to students why they should care.
Student loan information can be quite overwhelming - interest rates, capitalization, grace period, repayment plans, deferment options – there is a lot of information to remember. We should definitely provide ample time for the student to absorb everything we present and to ask questions.
At my school the students are given a checklist of people that they must talk to before they can be given there grad paper work. This has been a great tool and is updated as needed.
Great idea! I do not believe we have heard this particular suggestion from other participants.
For schools that have high drop rates, I wonder if a similar approach could be taken on a term-by-term basis, i.e. enforce the checklist before the students can register. That way, we ensure that students have received loan information and FA counseling even if they do not stay through to graduation.
Sometimes financial aid advisors may rush through entrance and exit counseling procedures. This is usually because the advisor has a lot of students that are lined up to see them and sometimes they can feel overwhelmed or rushed, and this energy can rub off to the student. I think it is extremely important to have a reasonable time restriction but not to rush or make the student feel rushed. If we take a deep breath and slow down we will not miss any important information or have the student misunderstand anything.
Cristela,
This is an excellent observation. Much of what we present in this course and in the forums are best-case scenarios. Reality, however, often differs from our ideal and we need to have realistic strategies to deal with our schools as they actually are. We would like to connect personally with every student, but perhaps we simply do not have the staff or resources to accomplish this.
In-person interviews are ideal, but if we must make a choice between poorly presented, rushed, or inaccurate sessions and group or online counseling supplemented by generic handouts, then I would choose the latter options. If we meet with students, we must handle it well, otherwise the students will be affected as you noted.
Colleges that cannot meet the goal of one-on-one counseling can put extra effort into the quality of their written materials and mailings, and can develop recorded/animated presentations that supplement handouts.
Kellee Gunderson
We presently complete one-on-one Entrance counseling, which works out very well and provides the student the opportunity to ask questions. The exit counseling is done in a group setting with the graduating class. I think it would be best if students had a one-on-one exit counseling sessions because it can be more intimate, in that students are able to ask specific questions regarding their loan indebtedness. When in a group setting, this information is personal and students don't always feel comfortable to share. We always reassure them to stop in an see us privately, but very seldom do students follow through.
Wanda,
You have identified an excellent way to improve your default prevention efforts. The value of quality one-on-one entrance counseling cannot be underestimated, but a lot can change in students’ lives by the time graduation arrives. When it is time for exit counseling, students may have a more realistic view of the job outlook in their industry, beginning pay rates, family budget and debt, etc. As you suggest, students may have many new questions about their loan debt and we want to create an opportunity for them to share those concerns.
Kellee Gunderson
I need to hold more group meetings. Many times people do not ask questions until someone else starts asking questions. This gives everybody the opportunity to hear the answer to a question they might have had but was too affraid to ask.
Jason,
This is a very helpful and interesting observation! A recent forum participant found that students are reluctant to ask revealing questions in a group environment. It seems that perhaps a good approach is to introduce information during a group session, but make sure that each student receives individual attention. The earlier post noted that even though we tell students to seek us out with questions, many never bother to come back. Based on this experience, we must try to take care of each student’s needs thoroughly when we have their attention.
Kellee Gunderson
We do one-on-one Entrance Counseling, which I think works well, but when it comes to Exit Counseling, I think we should encourage all students to complete Exit Counseling in person. So many of the students who complete it online click through the exit interview in a hurry and really don't comprehend the information.
Sherry,
I agree completely. When I completed my exit counseling online I was shocked at how easy it was to answer the questions without reading most of the online content – the generic quiz did not challenge me to absorb or critically assess any of the information.
If you meet one-on-one, students are able to speak up as questions occur. If students are confused or curious about something in an online presentation, they may never take the time to follow-up with the FA office about it.
Kellee Gunderson
Each student deserves the time and quality explanation of the Entrance Counseling, Exit Counseling, MPN, and award letter. It is very critical that each student leaves the financial aid office with the information regarding debt that will need to be paid back after graduation. Each student that graduates from the program should leave with the confidence that the FA dept has taken the time to explain all information for FA and paying for school.
Henry,
I really love how you used the words “deserves†and “confidenceâ€. When we are busy and short-staffed, we may take a mechanical or automatic approach to our jobs, completing our assigned tasks but losing the personal connection to students and their success. Keeping the student as our primary focus leaves everyone with a positive impression, and this extra effort will be reflected in our default rates and student retention rates.
Kellee Gunderson
As the Bursar, I am not involved in either entrance or exit counseling. Perhaps if I were, I could add a little weight to the topic of responsible tuition payment. I'll discuss it with my Campus Director.
Mala,
We have heard from several participants who use tuition or private loan payment plans as an opportunity to teach students how to budget for monthly bills and to be responsible for their obligations. It does seem clear that students who work with college staff in this manner are less likely to fall behind on their federal loans because good financial habits have already been established by the time grace ends.
Kellee Gunderson
We always do entrance one on one and then exit as a group. We hand out packets with information regarding their loans during exit counseling. I think it would also help if we did something during the middle of their program to help remind the students about their loans.
Wendy,
That would be a great addition to your efforts! Students take in a lot of information at the start of enrollment, so regular reminders help keep them on track. You can also ask for updated contact information and discuss personal challenges the student might be facing.
Touching base in the middle of the program also allows you to speak to students who may unfortunately not still be with you at graduation time. Those students are in particular risk of default so providing resources and information to them greatly benefits both them and the school.
Kellee Gunderson
We currently do group exit counseling. We are not a big school so doing one on one exit counseling would be a great way to help our students and improve their experience while increasing their feeling of responsibility.
Amber,
If you have the resources to do one on one counseling I think it is a great benefit for the student. In this way you can really personalize it and ensure the borrower has a full understanding of their rights and responsibilities before they leave your school. Most people have very specific needs for their particular situation and you can really tailor the session to ensure those are addressed and that the student has a plan for success.
Cheryl Kesson
Several participants have noticed that students are more reluctant to ask questions or provide revealing personal information in a group setting. You may find more success with one-on-one counseling because students feels safer and their privacy is respected.
