Karan M.'s Senior Project Blog!

COVID-19 has had profound impacts on the lives of many students who have a desire to receive higher education beyond high school. Many families simply do not have the financial means to send their children to college or don’t believe that online classes are worth paying full tuition for a less interactive learning environment. Many universities have had little ability to make meaningful tuition cuts in response to COVID-19 because of economic losses that have already been endured and employees such as professors and administrators that have to be paid for there to be a functioning university. Through my research, I will track college retention and enrollment numbers and even receive some first-hand accounts on why certain students decide to delay their plans for higher education. My research will have data supporting how COVID-19 has affected current and future trends within the college admission process. During my internship with Nolij Consulting, a small woman-owned government healthcare consulting firm, I hope to receive insider information on government action and policy to financially bail out college students and places of higher education amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, I hope to receive assistance from the Nolij team when it comes to understanding complex college financial records and bank interest rates and loans.