A financial aid counselor works at a high school or university, assisting students and parents with financial aid forms and making discretionary decisions about the distribution of financial aid to help pay for education costs. A bachelor’s degree in the humanities or a related field, as well as at least two years of experience in financial aid or counseling, is typically required of a financial aid counselor. This job necessitates meticulous attention to detail as well as a thorough understanding of various financial aid requirements and laws.
A financial aid counselor meets with students or parents/caregivers on a daily basis for a variety of reasons. A student may have questions about financial aid eligibility or the different types of financial aid available at first. Based on the information and financial data provided, the counselor will be able to assess a student’s needs and eligibility, and may then explain the differences between grants, loans, and scholarships available from the government, the university or school, or a private party.
Following that, a financial aid counselor may assist students in filling out financial aid forms. He or she may meet with students one-on-one or in a workshop setting to assist a larger group of students in preparing for higher education. After the applications have been submitted, the counselor will need to be available to answer any questions or assist in the resolution of any issues that may arise between the aid recipient and the lenders or scholarship donors.
Some university financial aid counselors have the authority to make decisions about financial aid disbursement to individual students based on need or mitigating circumstances. Other responsibilities could include ensuring that students are meeting the educational and financial requirements that qualify them for financial aid; for example, if a student’s grades drop, he or she may lose eligibility for a particular scholarship or aid program.
Working with people should be enjoyable for a financial aid counselor. The counselor must be able to communicate clearly with students and caregivers, and he or she must be able to explain complex financial concepts to them. Before becoming a financial aid counselor, it will almost certainly be necessary to work as an assistant in a school’s financial aid department to ensure a thorough understanding of the laws and procedures.