TL/DR –
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is facing delays due to technical issues arising from new changes in the process, causing uncertainty among high school seniors making college decisions. FAFSA reduced the application questions by about two-thirds this year to simplify the process but the software couldn’t handle the volumes, causing significant delays. FAFSA application rates have decreased this year as many students are waiting for the issues to be resolved before making decisions about their college career.
US College-bound High School Seniors Face Uncertainty Due to FAFSA Delays
In a first for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), high school seniors across the US find themselves in a state of uncertainty as FAFSA delays impact college choices. This year, FAFSA has implemented significant changes, reducing the application questions by about two-thirds in an attempt to simplify the process for students and their families.
Ferris State University’s assistance director of financial aid, Melanie Mulder, indicated that while these changes have generally been well-received and have made the process easier, they have caused a slew of technical issues. She said, “The software just wasn’t ready to handle the volumes.”
Ferris State is making efforts to assist students during this tough time, with the launch of a hotline for prospective students waiting on FAFSA results.
This period, normally filled with excitement as students finalize their college choices, is now clouded with uncertainty about receiving needed financial aid. Michelle Rhodes, associate VP for financial aid at Grand Valley State University, noted that the FAFSA delays keep continuing, causing issues for students and families.
Additionally, Mulder pointed out that while the FAFSA usually opens on Oct. 1, it only opened on Dec. 31 this year, and even then, it was not working efficiently. The problem is especially acute for high school seniors awaiting to commit to a university.
Mulder also noted the decrease in FAFSA rates this year as many students are waiting for the technical issues to be resolved. She further explained that the delay does not impact continuing students as much as prospective ones, because the former are not financially awarded for the next year until June.
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