Deputy Secretary Raskin Talks Money with BHCC Students

Friday, October 30, 2015

U.S. Treasury Deputy Secretary Sarah Bloom Raskin visited Bunker Hill Community College on October 23 to talk with students about student loans and college affordability. “You are putting the most important thing first—your education,” said Raskin, who listened to students’ stories about their struggles to pay for school, answered their questions and recommended visiting studentaid.gov, the Federal Student Aid website.

Deputy Secretary Raskin affirmed the Obama Administration’s commitment to increasing access and improving outcomes for students choosing different higher education options at various stages of their lives. The round-table discussion included students who ranged in age from 19 to 46 and came from the U.S., Syria, Haiti, Chile and Uruguay. Their aspirations included advanced study in medicine, social entrepreneurship, paralegal studies, business and law, as well as teaching educational psychology, serving within a hospital administration, developing therapeutic and rehabilitation procedures and devices, and working as a victims’ rights advocate.

Their questions to Raskin ranged from how Pell Grant eligibility works when transferring schools to how to avoid predatory lenders. They discussed the difficulties of paying for a parent and child’s education simultaneously, obtaining enough financial aid to fund an advanced degree, and gaining better access to a STEM education.

Raskin stressed the importance of borrowers understanding their repayment options, including the availability of income-based repayment alternatives, as they finish school and enter the repayment phase. She wrapped up her visit on a reassuring note, saying, “Thee Administration will continue working to find solutions to the challenges facing students across the country.”

Visit Flickr to see more photos from Deputy Secretary Raskin's visit. 

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