FAFSA Nightmare

At this point, seniors, I am guessing that you are aware of at least some of the challenges with the new simplified FAFSA.  From the opening of the FAFSA to go live for students and families to complete being delayed to the struggles to actually be able to successfully log in and navigate the new FAFSA forms, it has been challenging for students and families.

But do you know who the process has been even worse for?  Colleges.  The colleges still don't have any of the FAFSA forms that have been completed and the recently learned that they wouldn't receive the FAFSA data that families submitted until sometime in early to mid-March.  With the way things have been going, colleges aren't anticipating that they will receive the information they need to make financial aid offers to students until mid-March.

As a result, this is going to be VERY difficult for families to make informed decisions about the financial fit of colleges because you will most likely not receive those financial aid offers from colleges until some time in April.

Colleges across the country are trying to figure out how to support families as they understand the extreme stress that these FAFSA delays are causing for students.  One of the things that I believe you will likely hear from a solid number of colleges is to delay their date that they require students to commit to attending their school.  Nationally, on normal years, this deadline is always May 1st for all colleges.  But now schools are saying that they will be delaying this deadline.  You will have to look at the information from your particular colleges to see what they are saying about their commitment deadlines.  For example, Ohio State announced last week that they are extending this delay to May 15th.

I know that this isn't the news you wanted if you are anxiously awaiting for information on financial aid to determine if you'll be able to attend a school, but know that this will work our and the colleges are trying to work with you.