Navigating the delays and glitches in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form has left some CCSU students frustrated.
FAFSA attempted to revamp the form by having “fewer questions and more automated features,” according to the Washington Post. While FAFSA tried to make the form easier, continuous delays and technical difficulties have occurred.
“My experience with FAFSA this year was frustrating,” Natalie Blacker, a junior secondary history education major, said.
The FAFSA delays leave students unclear of how much financial aid they will receive in the upcoming school year.
“I have always done it the second it comes out to get it out of the way, and this year’s ‘testing’ time was very annoying, as it would claim to be open, but only a few people could do it at a time. With little-to-no updates, I found myself getting very frustrated with the process.”
Blacker said that while the process was rocky, she was still able to complete the form and register for financial aid, but that did not solve the problem.
“I still have no idea how much aid I will receive next year and that’s kind of scary,” Blacker said. “I do pay for my own bills and such. So it’s nerve-wracking not knowing how much I will have over my head.”
The CCSU Financial Aid Office sent an email to all students on Jan. 8 informing them that FAFSA was available. There were no follow-up communications regarding the delays.
“I think CCSU could’ve done a better job communicating with students about these delays and potentially sped up their own work to get our aid out,” Blacker said. “I do understand it’s not CCSU’s fault that the form was late, but I feel like they could’ve done something by now.”
Rebecca Hayward, a CCSU financial counselor, said the financial aid office has been in communication with students to help them navigate the delays.
“We are just letting the student know to either check to see if they have an activity on their student aid account through FAFSA to answer any additional questions or we assist with the FAFSA in the (financial aid) office,” Hayward said. “We are now receiving the FAFSA at the university and have already begun offering awards for next year.”
