As a digital engagement strategist for the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid, alumna Nicole Callahan, B.B.A. ’11, is working to find new ways to connect students with financial aid opportunities.
With her help, @FAFSA launched virtual #AskFafsa Office Hours in 2012 via Twitter discussions that reach students where they are— on the web.
“Too often students don’t apply for federal student aid, because they think they don’t qualify,” Ms. Callahan said. “I always tell students you never know until you apply.”
As the first person in her family to attend and graduate from college, Ms. Callahan, who hails from a working-class area of Boston, is all too familiar with the challenges faced by low-income students.
Her success, fueled by a combination of determination, federal student aid and several part-time jobs, is a lesson in overcoming those challenges.
“I have a personal interest in my work because I was in the same position as students that I work with,” she said. “It’s great to be able to tell them that it’s possible.”
Getting There
In 2007 Ms. Callahan was one of many academically gifted students attending Boston Latin Academy, founded as the Girls Latin Academy, the first college preparatory high school for girls in the U.S.
Despite the academic rigor of her high school, for low-income, high-achieving students like Ms. Callahan, access to higher education remained an uphill battle, and top-tier schools were often out of reach because of the price tag, she said.
“I knew so many classmates who were very smart and accepted into amazing schools that they simply could not attend because they couldn’t afford it,” she said.
Determined to attend GW, Ms. Callahan conducted research on applying to and affording college.
“My mom was an administrative professional for the Boston Police Department, and she was very supportive,” she said. “However, I didn’t have access to the same information as students who grow up in homes with parents that have navigated the process.”
Luckily, Ms. Callahan qualified for a generous financial aid package. Though it was enough to get her to campus, it was just the beginning.
“GW does a great job with racial, religious and geographic diversity and new efforts are focused on recognizing low-income students and getting them to campus,” she said.
Culture Shock
Arriving on the Foggy Bottom Campus was both thrilling and terrifying, according to Ms. Callahan. Though she adjusted to the differences between downtown D.C. and inner-city Boston, she was aware that her college experience was very different from that of her peers.
“I worked two jobs to get through it and unlike other students, including my friends, I didn’t have weekends free,” she said. “I did well academically, but it was difficult.”
For Ms. Callahan, the reality of attending college as a low-income student meant turning down dinner with friends because the restaurant didn’t accept the GWorld card, which is linked to the university dining plan.
She also limited travel to see her family.
“I didn’t really tell people about my situation,” she said. “My family couldn’t afford to visit me for parents’ weekend, and I would work extra hours for months in advance of holidays in order to travel home to Boston.”
She said that in her current position with the Office of Federal Student Aid, she advises students to consider the net price of attending an institution, which includes costs after applying scholarships and grants. Students should also consider costs beyond tuition, she said.
“When you are in college and taking out loans for school, the money doesn’t seem real,” she said. “If you know the total cost, you should try to borrow as close to the exact amount you need as possible and limit your debt.”
Despite the challenges, Ms. Callahan is a proud alumna. She counts her participation in the business fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi, internships, study abroad and the support of GW as highlights of her time at the university.
“I was happy with my experience at GW, and the school was very generous with my financial aid package,” she said. “I had a number of really great internships, and I am really proud of how the university supports students in gaining hands-on internship experience.”
She added that she was excited to learn about the involvement of the Office of Parent Services and Parents Campaign Philanthropy Board in addressing the financial need of students and the Career Services Advisory Council’s Knowledge in Action Career Fund, which grants scholarships to students with unpaid internships.
“These types of programs offer just as much to students as aid for tuition does,” she said. “It’s a good start, and I hope to see more programs like this at GW so that we can continue to build this community.”
In that vein, the university recently committed to supporting high school students in D.C. who need financial assistance.
The pledge was made following the summit on higher education hosted by President Obama. University President Steven Knapp attended along with a select group of leaders in higher education.GW also announced plans to establish admissions liaisons at local high school with underserved populations, an expanded roster of campus visits and workshops for middle school students, who lack access to information about higher education.
The university will create additional partnerships with community colleges to create clear pathways for academically talented students to earn a bachelor’s degree at GW.
Helping the Next Generation
The social stigma associated with being a low-income student at a mid- or top-tier school, is a concern for Ms. Callahan, who considers herself an advocate for low-income students.
She was inspired to help prospective students during a summer spent working with the Colonial Visitor Information Program, a university Admissions’ program that offers insight into the school through on-campus visitation during June, July and August.
“It was great for me because it provided housing over the summer and a stipend, “she said. “I was able to talk to students, some of them like myself, who were afraid they couldn’t afford to attend college.”
“I loved working in admissions because you get to see your impact every day, as you hear students’ stories and help them plan their future,” she added.
The positive experience eventually led her to the Office of Federal Student Aid, where she is a part of the first customer experience department in government. The department is primarily concerned with how to better reach students and parents to relay information about funding for higher education.
“Our approach is to try and understand the needs of students and parents and increase accessibility through outreach,” she said.
The #AskFAFSA Office Hours on Twitter is one example of their efforts to reach students, and a comprehensive, centralized web presence for student aid is in the works.
“We have been online every day since July 2012 answering questions from students,” she said. “It gives us the ability to help students who don’t want to call in or go to the website.”
Her team even spoke with students via Twitter during the holidays to offer guidance on the newly released FAFSA.
Building new ways to help low-income students is a reminder for Ms. Callahan of her journey through higher education.
“People who see me now, they don’t expect that I came from where I came from,” she said. “And I am dedicated to making sure that all students, whatever their income, can get an education.”
“Funding your education can be a very intimidating experience, and I want every low-income student to know that you are not alone.”