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College-bound teens feeling impact of Covid-19 Many NH families reevaluate their higher-ed plans
LAKES REGION OUNTRY BY JUDI CURRIE
NASHUA REGION their concerns about paying bills while 13%
say their parent or caregiver has lost their job High school seniors are taking a long, hard due to Covid-19, leading them to consider a public school or a college closer to home to look at college plans. According to a new survey by Junior lower travel expenses. “If there’s a second round of Covid-19, it is Achievement USA and Citizens Bank, more better be closer to home should colleges than two-thirds of teens report they are eiBUSINESS TECH, ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING, HOSPITALS, BANKING,to PERSONAL FINANCE, ENERGY have toTHE quickly shut down again,” said Robther somewhat or veryINconcerned aboutLAW, the OPINIONS, OW: FEATURE STORY AND JUMPS, BRIEF, FLOTSAM, LATEST, ABOUT TOWN erts. “I’mNEWS, happy that families are having those W: REAL impact ESTATE +ofCONSTRUCTION, HEALTHCARE, CHARITABLE GIVING, MORE ONLINE the pandemicEDUCATION, on their families and TOURISM, W: AREA day-to-day GRAPHICS, another WORD and not waiting until the elevlives. TOURISM choice, CALENDAR, LAST conversations The survey of 1,000 U.S. teens, ages 13 to enth hour.” 18 and not currently attending college, found that 44% of high school juniors and seniors Decision day say Covid-19 has impacted their plans to pay May 1 in the college-bound world is called for college. decision day. It is the deadline for students Christine Roberts, head of student lending to accept offers of admission, however, many for Citizens Bank, said one positive takeaway colleges have pushed the date to June 1. is families are talking about finances, some“A lot of schools are still grappling with what thing the bank has always encouraged as part the fall semester will look like,’ Roberts said. of its mission. “And families are waiting to see. There’s a lot “We call it, ‘the other talk you have to have of unknowns.” with your kids’ and it’s all about how you Brenda Poznanski, director of school counwill pay for and finance college,” said Robseling and admission for Bishop Guertin High erts. “More than 70% of the students who School in Nashua, agreed. “We all have to wait responded said they have been talking with and see. I’ve been getting a lot of information parents and say they understand how this is from colleges that are planning to open in the affecting the family financially.” fall, but they are cautiously optimistic.” Nearly a quarter of teenagers say their parBishop Guertin is a college preparatory ents or caregivers have shared with them school, and many of its students applied and
received early acceptance. “Now those decisions may change with the economy or if colleges go remote,” she said. “Kids may defer. We’ve been talking about it, and I have been forwarding information on a daily basis from colleges.” According to the JA-Citizens survey, 30% of those whose plans have changed said they have had to delay their college start date and 13% said they have changed the school they plan to attend. But those who defer may not find much to do. “A gap year is a dramatic decision. What will they do with that time?” Poznanski said. “Typically, they would go abroad to study, work on a farm or do AmeriCorps, but those activities may be shut down as well. Internships and apprenticeships may not be available either.” She said juniors are probably more anxious than seniors because they really don’t know what is going to happen. They cannot visit campuses (typically done during April vacation), and SAT and ACT exams, used in admissions scoring by some colleges, were suspended for May and June. Even careful, long-range planners may find themselves in trouble, Roberts said, as college savings plans (called 529s) have been hit by
the stock market. Almost 60% surveyed say they are now more likely to take out student loans. “We have just launched CitizensBank.everfi. com, a resource for all things financial with a holistic view of managing money, including higher education costs,” said Roberts. “We want people to have the information to make the best decision and, quite frankly, borrow as little as possible.” A graduate of Plymouth Regional High School, Rhys Harris, was accepted for admission by Wesleyan University in Connecticut through early decision and was “incredibly excited” to start college in the fall. But Covid-19 has put into question aspects of his future that seemed certain just two or three months ago. He said Wesleyan may delay freshman matriculation to the spring. “With the crash of the economy as well, I may end up entering the job market in a turbulent time,” he said. “Many people a decade ago were forced into the job market during the height of the 2008 financial crisis, which has had long-lasting impacts on the lives of young adults at that time.” This article is being shared by partners in The Granite State News Collaborative. For more information, visit collaborativenh.org.
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