THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 7, 1995 TAG: 9507070597
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E12 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: TEENSPEAK
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
CRYSTAL WILLIAMSON hopes her near-perfect grade-point average will pave - and pay - her way to college, preferably Penn State.
Heather Anderson doesn't believe her difficulties in math should hold her back from earning enough aid to attend North Carolina State University. She's hoping she'll fund her four years with financial aid based on her family's income.
These Camden High School students illustrate the problem many upperclassmen face when it comes time to determine just how much of a college education they can afford. Whether you plan to pay your own way or get grants and loans to foot the bills, one thing is certain: It's going to take some hard work.
``I'm second in my class, and I'm in the same boat everybody else is in,'' Crystal, 16, a junior, said. ``I need the financial aid. My parents probably make more than the norm, but they never saved the money for me to go to college. And it's too late to start doing it now.'' Jason Spencer, 17, is a University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill hopeful who agrees with Crystal. He cited the recent story of a North Carolina student who made a perfect score on his SAT but didn't receive enough financial aid to go to the school of his choice.
``He should have gotten it no matter what, even if his parents were really rich,'' said Jason Spencer, who is also considering the more expensive Campbell University.
The student with the perfect SATs had parents who were both state workers who earned enough to only qualify their son for $5,000 in financial aid at Darmouth College, which is private and costs about $29,000 per year with room and board. Their income, Jason Spencer said, ``shouldn't have mattered at all'' with the exceptional academic skills their son possessed.
Danny Jacobs believes income does matter, though academics also should account for the amount of tuition assistance a student receives.
``Just because someone isn't capable of making an A average or a B average, and they really want to improve their life, they shouldn't be held back because they didn't have good enough grades,'' said Danny, a 17-year-old senior who wants to attend UNC-Chapel Hill.
Heather is 16 and plans to simultaneously enroll in Camden High School and College of the Albemarle next year to store up college credits. She agrees with Danny.
``In certain subjects, I'm not going to be at the top of my class. And my mom is under-(incomed), so I would get financial aid,'' the rising senior said.
Jason Wynne, 17, favors academics over family income. He thinks anyone can make the grade. Only achievers should be in contention for scholarships and student aid.
Unlike the others, Jason Wynne said he most likely will attend College of the Albemarle, a community college, or nearby Elizabeth City State University for at least the first two years. ``It's cheaper,'' he said. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Jason Spencer, 17, Camden
by CNB