FInancial Aid Today

Waiting in line at the Washington State University Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships Samantha Dillion chews her lip nervously.

Dillion has aspired to attend Washington State University since her freshmen year of high school. However, like many other students the full cost of attending a university may cut her dream short. The 19-year-old freshmen Zoology major, a native of Tucson Arizona relies almost completely on financial aid and scholarships to pay her out of state tuition.

Dillion’s first interaction with the Washington State University Financial Aid Offices in September of 2011 was not a pleasant one. When Dillion told the counselor that she did not know how to pay the remaining money she owed, the counselor told her that she might as well go home.

“Hearing that made me feel hopeless. Being a first generation college student I didn’t really know how the payment system worked here at WSU and I never really got a clear idea in the orientation process. ” Dillion said

Amid Washington State University taking in a record freshmen class of 4,174 students and constant budget cuts to Washington State school systems those in need of aid are finding it more difficult to receive.

Not all students who need the help of financial aid receive it. Jacob Simon is a high school senior from Denver, Colorado.  Simon's older sister attends Washington State University, but he will be crossing the state line to the University of Idaho campus.

“I was denied financial aid because on paper my parents look well to do, but it was never taken into account that my parents are going through an expensive divorce or that my dad is already paying for my sisters education. I chose the University of Idaho hoping to ease the burden on my dad at least a little” Simon Said.

Simon applied for scholarships but said he found it difficult to beat out the upwards of 4000 other students in his school back home.

 “I don’t feel like scholarships are hyped enough. Everyone talks about financial aid and you hear about some miraculous scholarship for a special boy or girl but finding one when you are young, white, and male, is practically impossible.” Simon said

Simon believes he can find a scholarship if he continues to hunt, but says he does not know where to start looking.

Dillion however already has scholarships, two of which she is quite proud. The Cougar Academic Scholarship which will pay about $9000 each semester of her four years in school if she maintains a high grade point average. As well as the Sybil Brooks Scholarship, which awards $1000 for one year. Dillion says even with Scholarships she owes about $6,500 per semester, her parents are unable to help her and her grandparents have pulled out their retirement to help her pay in hopes she won’t have to take out a loan.

Washington state legislature has been attempting to stop budget cuts to education. Washington State University may be facing  $9.34 million in budget cuts this year, but that is a far cry from the $26 million proposed in November of 2011, or the $13.5 million imposed in 2010.

Dillion swears she will continue to keep her 3.64 grade point average if it will help her to get the education her parents could not. Nonetheless if budget cuts continue, good grades may not be enough.