This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to improve your website experience and provide more personalized services to you, both on this website and through other media.
Accept
EdTechReviewEdTechReview
  • News
  • Trends
  • Insight
  • eLearning
  • Research
  • Dictionary
  • EdTech Voices
  • Explore
    • Data & Statistics
    • Reviews
    • AWS for Education
    • Events

    Resources

    • Infographics
    • Reports & Case Studies
    • Videos
    • Books
    • Webinar

    Needs

    • 1:1 Learning
    • 21st Century Education
    • 21st Century Leadership
    • 21st Century Learning
    • 21st Century Teaching
    • 3D Printing
    • More Tags

    For

    • Students
    • Teachers/Educators
    • Administrators
    • Entrepreneurs/Startups
    • Govt. Officials/Policymakers
    • Parents
Contribute
  • Submit A Post
  • EdTech Trainers and Consultants
  • Your Campus EdTech
  • Your EdTech Product
  • Your Feedback
  • Your Love for Us
ETR Resources
  • About
  • Mission/Vision
  • Team
  • Services
  • Testimonials
  • Authors
  • Sponsor
  • Partner
  • Advertise
  • Our Clients
  • Media Kit
  • Press Release
  • FAQ’S
Reading: 3 Steps Higher Ed Staff Can Take to Help Students Claim Financial Aid
Aa
EdTechReviewEdTechReview
Aa
  • News
  • Trends
  • Insight
  • eLearning
  • Reviews
  • Dictionary
  • EdTech Voices
  • Data & Statistics
  • Research
  • AWS for Education
  • Events
  • Voices
  • Tags
  • About
  • Contribute
  • FAQ’S
  • Our Clients
  • Partner
Follow US
Home > News > 3 Steps Higher Ed Staff Can Take to Help Students Claim Financial Aid
News

3 Steps Higher Ed Staff Can Take to Help Students Claim Financial Aid

Brian Kathman
Brian Kathman Published Oct 27, 2017
Share
6 Min Read
[student Scholarship] L’oreal India for Young Women in Science Scholarship 2015
[Student Scholarship] L’Oreal India For Young Women in Science Scholarship 2015
SHARE

According to NerdWallet.com, as much as $2.7 billion in free federal grant money went unclaimed in 2015 due to incomplete or unsubmitted Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms.

AdvertisementWhy this Ad?

AdvertisementWhy this Ad?

What’s getting in students’ way when it comes to filling out these forms? A recent survey of 4,000 students conducted by the Journal of Student Financial Aid identified the following as top roadblocks to on-time FAFSA completion: a confusing application process, too much information demanded from students, and difficulty obtaining parental financial information. FAFSA forms – which are meant to help students gain access to the monetary resources needed to fund a college education – are instead hindering the students that need them most.

Is there anything that can be done to knock down these roadblocks? As it turns out, small, bite-sized text reminders are key. Not only do text reminders reach students where they already are, texts are a great way to break down the complicated FAFSA information that keeps so many students away. In one such case, 16,000 students across the state of Louisiana received text messages about scholarship and FAFSA opportunities through The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistant (LOSFA). The result? 76 percent of seniors in the program texted back at least once, contributing to a 7 percent increase in FAFSA submissions in the state of Louisiana this year.

There’s no arguing that texting students with reminders about filling out FAFSA forms on time can be an effective solution to reducing the high amount of unclaimed federal grant money. If you’ve decided to give it a try, there are some best practices that you can put in place to get a heightened response from your student texting campaign. We’ve pulled together our top tips:

Start with a Solid Strategy

Because you’ll be reaching students directly on their phones, you want to build a text campaign that is purposeful and efficient. Start by identifying the specific goal you’re setting out to achieve by texting students. In the case of FAFSA submissions, outline the specific roadblocks you’re working to overcome and how you plan to negate each one with text reminders. Following closely behind setting specific goals is setting deadlines related to those goals. When do students need to know the important tidbits of information you plan to send their way? Finally, be prepared to respond in a timely manner once your text reminders are out the door. Set aside time in your calendar for prompt responses to questions from students – be prepared to answer their questions about FAFSA deadlines, financial information requested, how to submit the forms once they are ready, etc.

Do’s and Don’ts of Texting Students

When it comes to text reminders, there are certain things students want to hear from you. They want to benefit from your text just as much as you want them to. With this in mind, there are certain communication needs to be mindful of when planning out your student texting strategy.

Do:

  •        Be specific – only include the pertinent information
  •        Take time to send the right answer

Don’t

  •        Go overboard with abbreviations to try to be “cool” – no pls for please or dis for this
  •        Leave your students hanging – it only takes 90 seconds to answer a text

What to Do When You Don’t Hear Back

There is always a dreaded wait time when you send out a text – whether personal or professional. What if you don’t hear back? Did you say something wrong or say too much? The same questions may come to mind when you send out text reminders to students. The best thing you can do to eliminate these concerns is to add a touch of personalization before you send the text. Students want to know you’ve taken the time to send them an individualized message, versus a mass text. If your message reads like a canned or plug-and-go text, it will start to feel like a form email or even spam to your students. Text reminders work because they reach students directly – but don’t take for granted the importance of personalization.

Today’s student often needs the extra nudge when it comes to college-related admin processes. The good news is there’s an easy and effective fix. Become well-versed in the best ways to reach students via text and you’ll be able to help them with complicated processes like financial aid — nudging students to success one text at a time.

TAGGED: Parents, Students, Teachers/Educators, Tips for Parents, Tips for Students, Tips for Teachers/Educators, Tools for Parents, Tools for Students
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn Reddit Telegram Email Copy Link
Previous Article Teacher Evaluation, the First Step to Professional Development Characteristics of Effective Learning Feedback
Next Article Online Vs Offline Reading Online vs Offline Reading
AdvertisementWhy this Ad?

Latest EdTech News To Your Inbox

Stay Connected

Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram Linkedin
AdvertisementWhy this Ad?

Latest Post

Glion-institute-of-higher-education-partners-with-essec- B-school
Glion Institute of Higher Education Partners With ESSEC B-School to Offer Hybrid Master’s Program on Hospitality
News Jan 30, 2023
Brightchamps-announces-m-esops
Upskilling Platform BrightCHAMPS Announces $1M ESOPs for 400 Teachers
News Jan 30, 2023
Emocional-raises-5k-in-new-round
Spanish HRTech Startup Emocional Raises $435k in New Round From RedArbor
News Jan 30, 2023
Quantasing-raises-m-in-us-ipo
Chinese Online Learning Service Provider QuantaSing Raises $41M in US IPO
News Jan 28, 2023
AdvertisementWhy this Ad?

Latest EdTech News To Your Inbox

Stay Connected

Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram Linkedin
AdvertisementWhy this Ad?

You Might Also Like

Glion-institute-of-higher-education-partners-with-essec- B-school
News

Glion Institute of Higher Education Partners With ESSEC B-School to Offer Hybrid Master’s Program on Hospitality

Jan 30, 2023
Brightchamps-announces-m-esops
News

Upskilling Platform BrightCHAMPS Announces $1M ESOPs for 400 Teachers

Jan 30, 2023
Emocional-raises-5k-in-new-round
News

Spanish HRTech Startup Emocional Raises $435k in New Round From RedArbor

Jan 30, 2023
Quantasing-raises-m-in-us-ipo
News

Chinese Online Learning Service Provider QuantaSing Raises $41M in US IPO

Jan 28, 2023
French Hrtech Welcome to the Jungle Raises M in Series C Round
News

French HRTech Welcome to the Jungle Raises $54M in Series C Round

Jan 28, 2023
Popup-school-raises-0k
News

PopUp School Raises $540k in Pre-Seed Round to Accelerate Growth

Jan 27, 2023
Evulpo-raises-m-in-seed-round
News

Swiss Online Tutoring Platform Evulpo Raises $8.3M in Seed Round

Jan 27, 2023
Classera-raises-m
News

Silicon Valley Education Platform Classera Raises $40M in Series A Round

Jan 27, 2023
Show More
EdTechReviewEdTechReview

H433, 2nd Floor, Vikaspuri, New Delhi, India, 110018
Phone: 011 41321030

Follow US

Copyright © EdTechReview. All Rights Reserved.

  • Home
  • Advertise
  • Event Associations
  • Press Release
  • About
  • Services
  • Contribute
  • News
  • Trend & Insight
  • Data & Statistics
  • eLearning
  • Reviews
  • Research
  • Voices
  • Dictionary
  • Tags
  • Resources
  • Events
  • Courses
  • EdTech Product Reviews
  • Our Clients
  • FAQ’S
  • Contact Us
  • Important Links
  • Sitemap
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
Join 100K+ subscribers!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter that brings the latest EdTech news, trends, insights, reports, interviews, etc. for educators, school leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, & others.

Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?