Venegas, Kristan. 2006. <em>Internet Inequalities: Financial Aid, the Internet, and Low-Income Students.</em> American Behavioral Scientist 49(12):1652&#8212;1669.<br />
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Through focus groups and case studies of low-income urban high school students in California, Venegas investigates the impact of the digital divide for low-income students seeking information about financial aid and describes computer and internet access in low-income urban high schools. She finds that lack of computer access is not a widespread problem, and that low-income students generally have access to computers in a variety of settings. However, functioning computers and internet access alone are insufficient to bridge the digital divide, as college-bound students may still face technical difficulties in using the computer or have personal biases regarding internet usage. <br />
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Most students visit federal web sites, such as FAFSA.gov, but do not know that a similar site exists for Cal Grants. Many students also report that they prefer to look on the web sites of individual colleges rather than call the financial aid office for information. Students and parents are often suspicious of web sites not linked to a specific institution or the government and are reluctant to offer personal information over the internet. In general, more attention should be paid to ensuring that students and parents understand internet-based financial aid processes and the resources available to them. Venegas recommends directions for further research.