Botched rollout of new federal financial aid form forces delays in college decisions
The new FAFSA has fewer questions and expands eligibility, but students are waiting longer for their applications to be processed. What used to take days is now taking weeks, even months. Thousands of Hawaii students are being forced to wait on college decisions due to delays in financial aid applications. The new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFA) form, which simplifies application and expands eligibility, has resulted in a delay in applications taking weeks or months. The University of Hawaii - West Oahu's financial aid outreach worker, Frank Green, said the new FAFSA was not ready and it doesn't work. To address concerns, the state has set up a hotline to answer questions. While waiting for financial aid letters, experts suggest students apply to various sources of free money like subscription database Scholarship Owl. Once you receive your financial aid offer, consider negotiating for more or leveraging another school's offer.
ที่ตีพิมพ์ : เมื่อ เดือนที่แล้ว โดย Annalisa Burgos ใน
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Thousands of Hawaii students are being forced to wait on making college decisions because of delays in financial aid.
The U.S. government made it easier to apply for college aid this year with a simpler Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA. It has fewer questions and expands eligibility, but students are waiting longer for their applications to be processed. What used to take days is now taking weeks, even months.
That means families are bearing the brunt of a botched rollout of the new FAFSA -- used to assess a student’s eligibility for federal and state grants, scholarships and work-study programs.
“It wasn’t ready and it doesn’t work. And we are still dealing with glitches,” said Frank Green, who handles financial aid outreach for the University of Hawaii - West Oahu.
“Going to college for a lot of these families, it’s just a big deal to begin with. There’s so much involved in this and the pressure and the anxiety and the panic attacks that happen. And now you want to complicate it by giving them a fast, but that doesn’t work and delaying it to the point where they have no idea what type of assistance they’re going to be eligible for,” he said. “We’re going to have families and students who throw up their hands and say, I quit. I’ve had enough, I tried, I did my best, I can’t do this anymore. I quit, and we’re going to lose those kids. And that’s just unexcusable.”
To ease concerns, the state set up a hotline to answer questions.
For many students, the college they choose will depend on how much free money they’re offered.
“We’re all just waiting on our packages back,” said Antonio Miguel Vite, a graduating senior at Waipahu High School. “Thankfully, a lot of colleges push back their decision state decision days, like to June, instead of the usual May, which is very helpful.”
Vite hopes to get aid to help with an $80,000 a year bill for Chapman University. The cheaper option -- $9,000 at UH Hilo.
Fellow senior Jarvia Crecia Agbayani is figuring out how she can pay $72,000 a year to go to UC San Diego.
“With the UC schools, it’s pretty difficult to get financial aid from them, because they do prioritize California residents, which is understandable. So I’m mainly focusing on applying to a lot of outside scholarships that our college center does help us with,” she said.
While waiting for financial aid letters, experts suggest students apply to various sources of free money, like subscription database Scholarship Owl. Loans should be a last resort.
“Focus on making an affordable path for yourself working while you’re in school, different part time and then working full time during the summer, focus on scholarships, focus on choosing schools that are less expensive, and focus on attaining the education you need,” said Jennifer Finetti, Director of Student Advocacy at ScholarshipOwl.
If you can -- start early and graduate on time... Earning an associate degree in high school can help you save at least a year of college tuition.
“If I go to Chapman, it would be three years, I only have to go there for my bachelor’s. But if I stay in UH system, it’s definitely only two years, maybe even less,” Vite said.
Once you get your financial aid offer, consider negotiating for more, or leveraging another school’s offer.
“Let’s say you ask and they say no, it doesn’t mean they’re going to rescind their financial aid offer, and they’re certainly not going to rescind your offer of admission. So literally, it doesn’t hurt at all to ask,” Finetti said.
If you need help financing college, email [email protected] or call the FAFSA Hawaiʻi Hotline (808) 842-2540. It’s open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through May 31.
The state also offers free college financing webinars each week. The next one is March 28 at 6 p.m. Register at collegeiswithinreachhawaii.com.
หัวข้อ: Academia