Author: ethan

Between March and April high school seniors are sent Financial Award Letters by all the colleges they were admitted to. These letters give a detailed breakdown of the total costs of the university, along with a description of the various scholarships, grants, and loans being offered to the student. 

The official looking nature of these documents leads many to believe that they are set in stone. However, this is not the case, as there are legitimate reasons why a family can and should work with the college to try and increase the amount of aid being offered. 

Because these legitimate reasons are rarely publicized by the colleges–they don’t want to give out more money if they don’t have to–it can be very helpful to work with an Inspired Pathways advisor to find out just how you may be able to increase your award. Below are a few examples of how we’ve helped students in the past. (Note: for privacy reasons, we have removed any distinguishing details.)

Change of Circumstances

FAFSA uses a families “prior, prior tax information” meaning that for students planning to start college in the fall of 2024, they will use financial aid Information from the 2022 tax year. For families whose financial status has changed over those two years, it is important to submit a Change of Circumstances form, which can vary by college, to get your information updated and ensure you maximize your aid. This is one of the most common ways we’ve successfully helped students increase their award and we’ve successfully done so for students attending both 2- and 4-year schools. Students receiving support from Inspired Pathways have increased their Federal award by as much as $14,000 over two years by submitting a change of circumstance form. 

Appeal the Award

Appeals can be submitted for any reason the family wants, but are by far most effective when being used for one of the two following reasons:

1. All of the information that the school has is correct, however there are other aspects of the students life that have not been taken into account. 
2. The information they have is incorrect. 

Students receiving support from Inspired Pathways have increased their college scholarship by as much as $82,000 over four years through the appeal process. 

Request Increase Due to Better Offer

When a student has a better offer at a college that is not their top, the student can reach out to their top choice college and see if they’re willing to match the offer from the other institution. While this route does not always work, colleges do very much want to bring in students that view them as their top choice because those students are much more likely to stay throughout the course of the 4-years.  

Students receiving support from Inspired Pathways have increased their college scholarship by as much as $16,000 over four years by requesting their top college match a better offer.

A college-going culture fosters the belief that college is a viable and attainable option, particularly for underrepresented and first-generation students. It encompasses attitudes, policies, practices, and support systems that encourage students to aspire to and prepare for college.

Central to a CGC is the expectation that all students will consider college as part of their future and are provided pathways to get there. This mindset is cultivated through various initiatives, including academic guidance, mentoring, and outreach programs that provide information about college options, admissions processes, and financial aid. 

Over the last 20 years high schools, NGOs, and colleges have worked to promote the institutionalization of CGC at high schools throughout the country, especially focusing on those that have large numbers of first-generation college students. The Hormel Inspired Pathways program is the first effort of its kind to develop a Corporate College-Going Culture.

The most important aspects of a CGC include:

1. Expectation of College Attendance Instilling a belief among students, families, and staff that pursuing education is an attainable goal for all students, regardless of their backgrounds.
2. Academic Preparation Ensuring that students have access to a rigorous, college preparatory curriculum that aligns with college admissions standards. This includes providing support in critical areas such as math, literacy, and study skills.
3. Access to Resources and Information Providing comprehensive information about college options, admissions processes, scholarships, and financial aid. This includes workshops, one-on-one guidance, and access to college admissions professionals.
4. Family and Community Engagement Actively involving parents and community members in the college planning process. This can be achieved through workshops, informational sessions, and open communication about the steps necessary for college preparation.
5. Mentorship and Support Establishing mentorship programs that connect students with mentors who can provide guidance, encouragement, and support throughout their college preparation journey.
6. Collaboration with Local Institutions Partnering with local colleges, universities, and organizations to create pathways for students. This may include campus visits, guest speakers, and internships that expose students to the college experience.

College advising programs significantly improve the likelihood of college enrollment and completion for underrepresented and first-generation students. In fact, research has shown that programs like Inspired Pathways almost double the odds that a student will enroll in college after they graduate from high school. However, only about 5 percent of students from these backgrounds have access to these types of programs. 

“In addition to setting expectations and providing a financial pathway to college, these programs also aid in establishing a college-going culture within the community. Students hear the message that everyone is expected to plan for their futures beyond high school and to consider college as an option.”

Glaser & Warick, 2016, p.7

Research indicates that there are four key features to effective college access programming and Hormel Inspired Pathways was designed to address each.

1. Help students navigate the college admissions process 

Helping students complete college applications and prepare for entrance exams are the most important predictors of enrollment. Programs with the strongest evidence for effectiveness, all include this component.

The Hormel Inspired Pathways program is designed to teach students about each aspect of the college and financial aid process. Our program and workshops walk students through this process while also providing access to college admissions professionals if and when they have questions along the way.

2. Prepare students academically 

Access to a college preparatory curriculum while in high school is one of the most critical variables for helping students gain access to postsecondary education (Corwin, Colyar, & Tierney, 2005; Cabrera & La Nasa, 2001; Perna, 2000). 

The Inspired Pathways’ workshops discuss what colleges are looking for in applicants and how high schools students can gain access to the programs, courses, and experiences that will give them the best chance of being admitted into their top choice college. 

3. Provide support

Support is a predictor of college attendance and completion (Perna, 2000). Social support helps students see college as a realistic option. Students are more likely to plan to attend college if they are in an environment that promotes college enrollment. (Hossler, Schmit, & Vesper, 1999).

Inspired Pathways’ mentoring program provides students with a Hormel mentor, who works with their mentee to help them believe that college is in their future. Through instruction and support from the Inspired Pathways Director and advisors, mentors have all the tools they need to offer this crucial support. 

4. Involve and encourage parents/family 

Students with parents who are knowledgeable about college are more likely to attend college. Effective outreach programs address this predictor by involving parents and other family members, providing college information to parents, and teaching parents how to support their children’s education (Perna, 2002; Corwin et al., 2005; Swail & Perna, 2002). 

Inspired Pathways starts with the parents, fostering involvement from the beginning. Throughout the program, students and parents are asked to engage with our college planning workshops, and have the opportunity to work one-on-one with the Inspired Pathways Director and advisors.

These challenges resulted in significantly lower FAFSA completion rates, especially among first-generation and low-income students — the groups that often benefit the most from completing their financial aid applications. 

Looking ahead to the 2024-2025 cycle, we expect the challenges to continue. Some FAFSA publications indicate a return to the October 1 opening application date, but the fine print indicates that this will only be for a portion of the student population. The vast majority of students will have to wait, many until early December or later. 

---

The full 2025-2026 FAFSA won’t be open to the general public until December.

---

At Inspired Pathways, we are already working with our college partners on mitigation strategies, just as we did last year. Despite having dozens of students face FAFSA issues within our Class of 2024 scholarship group, we had no one lose their scholarship because of those issues. To ensure that we have the same success rate this year, we encourage all students and parents to prepare early. Below are some steps you can take to move the process forward:

• Create your FSA ID now: The FSA ID (Federal Student Aid Identification) is a username and password that allows students and parents to access U.S. Department of Education websites, including the FAFSA application. It serves as a digital signature and is used to confirm identity when applying for federal student aid. Both the student AND the parent need to create their own, and it can be created at any time.
• Prepare your documentation: More than half of families are able to use the IRS retrieval tool to automatically upload tax information, but many others will have to enter it manually. Get the following documents ready in case you have to enter the information manually: social security number, driver’s license number, federal tax returns from 2023, access to current bank statements. 
• Attempt to apply early: Some students will be able to apply on October 1. We suggest checking to see if your application is available as close to that date as possible. If it isn’t, try every other week until you are able to complete your application. 
• Keep us in the loop: Let us know if you’re having any trouble with your application. We’ll make sure to note it on your file so you won’t miss out on anything. We’ll provide support if the issue you’re facing can be resolved from the outside, and we’ll work with your college to make sure there is no delay in your education.

In this issue you’ll find:

• The latest on FAFSA
• Inspired Pathways reps visit Faribault production facility
• Why college price tags don’t tell you the whole story
• Tips to help make studying a breeze
• And more

In this issue you’ll find:

• The importance of academic planning.
• What college price tags don’t tell you.
• A recap of the Inspired Pathways team’s trip to Iowa plant communities.
• And more!

In this issue you’ll find:

• How High School seniors can take advantage of their summer.
• Continuing FAFSA issues plague the program, what you can do.
• What you need to know about the new Inspired Pathways portal
• And more!

In this bulletin you’ll find:

• Information about the program’s new application portal
• A discussion of the issues surrounding the new FAFSA process
• Advice for transferring to a four-year school
• Advice on choosing the right career for you
• Add more

In 2021, Congress passed legislation to address issues related to FAFSA accessibility, the total amount that could be borrowed through student loans, and to standardize the financial aid terminology used by colleges. These changes are being implemented on a year-by-year basis. 

Last year, the most notable change was the removal of a penalty for “over borrowing” that caused some students’ loans to be changed from Subsidized to Unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue any interest until after the student graduates. Unsubsidized loans start accruing interest immediately after being borrowed. This change is a huge help to those families that rely on subsidized loans. 

While changes in previous years affected only specific students, this year some of the changes will impact everyone who is using FAFSA — which all college students should fill out.  

Most notably, the opening date for FAFSA has moved from October 1 to December 1. This change may give the impression that it is OK to wait and fill out the FAFSA form. DO NOT DO THAT. Fill out the FAFSA as early as possible, because some of the funding is on a first-come-first-served basis. (Don’t worry if you’re a little late, none of it will run out in the first few weeks.)

“Tuition and fees,” which once covered everything besides room and board, will now refer only to tuition and fees directly related to courses, like lab fees. All other fees will be moved into a new category called “book, course materials, supplies, and equipment” and most importantly for families, for the first time this category will have its own funding. 

Student transportation expenses are now taken into consideration by FAFSA when calculating need, and colleges can give some funding for transportation between campus, a student’s home, and most notably a student’s place of work.

Colleges are no longer allowed to charge an extra loan fee for non-federal loans. Federal loans were already exempt from these fees.

There is increased funding for students who are working toward obtaining a license, certification or professional credential.

If you have questions about these changes, or any other college financial aid–related issues whether you’re an Inspired Pathways recipient or not, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Some students, like Addison Hoermann, took advantage of our financial aid counseling and received much more compensation than she was expecting.

To  receive financial aid counseling, sign up for a one-on-one meeting with a member of the Inspired Pathways team or reach out to our director Nate Lockett through our website.

In this bulletin you’ll find:

• Advice for juniors
• Ways to prepare for the SAT & ACT
• How Pathways is making college more attainable for students
• The keys to the community college application process
• And more!