IM体育官网 computer science junior Maricelly Nascimento, a first-generation college student, is completing her education with financial aid assistance.
While a student at Tampa Bay Technical High School, Maricelly Nascimento knew she鈥檇 need extra financial help to make her academic dreams become a reality.
鈥淢y dad doesn鈥檛 make much money 鈥� less than $15,000 a year, so he cannot pay for anything,鈥� said Nascimento, a junior majoring in computer science at IM体育官网. 鈥淚 knew if I was going to go to college, I was going to pay for it on my own, find transportation on my own, and pay for the dorms on my own.鈥�
Fortunately, through a combination of grants, scholarships, student employment, and other assistance, Nascimento has been able to fund her education while focusing on her studies. Today, she is a student employee in the Office of Financial Aid, which helps students like her find and understand the kind of financial aid they need.
鈥淚f I didn鈥檛 have assistance, I don鈥檛 think I would have gone to IM体育官网 Poly, if I went to college at all,鈥� said Nascimento, a first-generation college student. 鈥淔inancial aid has made it possible for me to go to college and pay for my housing and transportation.鈥�
February is Financial Aid Awareness Month, and Dr. Ben Matthew Corpus, vice provost of enrollment at IM体育官网 Poly, said ensuring students have access to need- and merit-based aid is a priority for the University. It is ranked among the best universities in IM体育官网 for top performance at a low cost and the most affordable mechanical engineering degree programs.
About 32% of IM体育官网 Poly students receive federal Pell Grants, he said. In all, about 85% of IM体育官网 Poly students receive some sort of financial aid, averaging $9,500 annually.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a critical priority to give more students access to STEM degrees, given the demand in the job market and the fact that there are not enough affordable options for high-end STEM degrees,鈥� Corpus said. 鈥淏ecause our students don鈥檛 have the significant debt that other institutions do, they have more flexibility and can chase their dreams without the anxiety of bone-crushing debt when they get out.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e not forced into careers just because of the money they have to pay back.鈥�
Corpus said this opens the door to students accepting jobs with employers such as nonprofit organizations, community groups, and the government.
This flexibility is very appealing for Nascimento.
鈥淚 know I鈥檓 passionate about computer science and I鈥檓 passionate about problem solving,鈥� Nascimento said. 鈥淚 want to do some sort of freelancing where I can work on projects I鈥檓 passionate about and can choose when I work and basically work for myself.鈥�
Nascimento said students should not limit themselves when applying for forms of financial aid.
鈥淎pplying for all types of financial aid possible is key, even if you think you might not get it,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 always a chance that you might, and it鈥檚 a chance worth taking.鈥�
Contact:
Lydia Guzman
Director of Communications
863-874-8557
