Ave Que No Vuela, es Ave Enjaulada

By Quetzal Mama • January 16, 2016

Ave Que no Vuela, es Ave Enjaulada

It typically goes down like this. An academically talented Latina enthusiastically applies to several colleges. Some of these colleges are local, but many of the campuses are from her home and family. Sure enough, this talented Latina earns admission to one or several of these far away college campuses. And, although the opportunity presented is exceptional in several ways, this Latina is encouraged by her family to decline the offers of admission and opt instead for the local college.

Whether it is fear, anxiety, or lack of understanding of the college system, many devoted Latino parents discourage their daughters from attending college far away from home.

Unfortunately, by discouraging or refusing to support our daughter’s decision to attend a non-local or out-of-state college, we may unwittingly deprive them of a lifetime of rewards. Our daughters are often asked to give up exceptional financial aid packages, relinquish their college dream that likely began in elementary school, forfeit an opportunity to thrive in an academic institution surrounded by intellectual peers, and give up being the person they have worked hard to become.

Before you say, “But college is college. Just get that Latina to college!” let me interrupt you and say, “No, all colleges are not equal.” And, they are unequal in ways that clip the wings of our talented Latinas who wish to soar. In fact, there are three critical factors that can significantly impact a student’s ability to succeed in college, to leave college without a lot of debt, and to graduate on time – or graduate at all.

Factor 1 – Limited Financial Aid. Colleges differ greatly in terms of their sources of financial aid. Some colleges offer aid based on financial need (not merit), some have a “need blind policy,” and others rely on funding via private donations, organizations, and student tuition. This means that some colleges may not have discretionary funds to recruit top students or to offer financial “perks.” Statistically speaking, the types of colleges that offer the greatest financial aid packages (aka “full rides”) are not typically in regions where a critical mass of Latinos reside. Hence, the local college may not yield the most lucrative financial aid offers.

Bottom line: Do the math. Compare award letters side by side to understand how much out-of-pocket expenses your family will incur over four years. You can also visit the College Affordability & Transparency Center or run a Net Price Calculator to determine the true costs of attending a particular university.

Factor 2 – Time to Graduate. Besides a solid financial aid award, it’s important to know, on average, how long it takes students to earn a four-year degree at the campus in question. Some local colleges may take an average of six to eight years for students to complete a Bachelor’s Degree. Because it may take her longer to graduate, our Latinas may pay significantly more over the years to cover the additional tuition, fees, transportation costs, and books. Additionally, this student will likely forfeit years of potential annual salary – due to remaining in college additional years versus working in a career. Oh, and some state aid ceases after four years, not six years.

To determine the time it takes to graduate from a particular campus, read the U.S. News & World Report’s “Highest 4 Year Graduation Rates” or use the College Results Comparison Tool to view graduation rates.

Factor 3 – Low Graduation Rates. Besides attending a college that takes longer, on average, to graduate, the student may also be disadvantaged by attending a campus with low graduation rates in general. In order to fairly compare “apples to apples” parents should examine the graduation rates of the local college and compare to the out-of-state or far away college. The good news is that the Department of Education provides a College Scorecard that lists graduation rates of all colleges in the U.S.

I know Latino parents’ decision to keep their daughters close to home is not because they are being selfish or punitive. They simply fear the unknown, worry their daughters won’t be safe, and lack an understanding of how different types of colleges will have different outcomes.

Before we clip our daughter’s wings, locking them in a metaphorical cage, let’s look at factual data and objectively weigh the pros and cons of this important decision. Perhaps consider the words of a wise father who recently said to me, “Even when birds fly – birds always return home, season after season.”