Families and prospective college students nationwide are facing frustration in their efforts to apply for federal financial aid.
The recent modifications to the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid were intended to simplify the process for families, but this has not been the outcome.
As the deadlines for committing to their preferred educational institutions draw near, workshops are being organized by [Organization Name] to assist students in completing both FAFSA and CASFA applications.
This situation is impacting all students, particularly individuals like Aylin Garza-Saucedo, a first-generation college applicant aspiring to attend her dream school, the University of Denver, in the upcoming fall semester.
“I’ve had the opportunity to visit the campus a few times, and I truly appreciate the atmosphere there,” shared Garza-Saucedo.
She is currently contemplating her field of study at the university. “I am considering pursuing a degree in business, law, or theatre,” she mentioned.
Being the child of immigrant parents, Garza-Saucedo emphasizes that achieving this goal without state or federal assistance would be challenging. “My father is the sole breadwinner, and we barely manage to meet our own needs… financing college would pose a significant challenge,” she expressed.
Garza-Saucedo remains optimistic but uncertain about the level of support she will receive to fulfill her aspirations at the University of Denver.
At a financial aid workshop conducted at Abraham Lincoln High School by the Denver Scholarship Foundation, numerous students echoed similar worries.
Joselyn Loya-Acosta, a college advisor with DSF at Abraham Lincoln High School, described the hectic and frustrating experience of navigating the changes in these applications. “We are guiding students through the application process, encountering errors, system downtimes, and instances where parents must contact FAFSA for identity verification, which poses challenges for us,” Loya-Acosta remarked.
Apart from assisting parents and students with FAFSA and CASFA submissions, Loya-Acosta has also aided students in applying for scholarships.
The Denver Scholarship Foundation presents awards to students across the city annually. “The current situation involves a considerable amount of uncertainty and waiting for decisions and aid packages to materialize due to these delays,” Loya-Acosta explained.
Recently, the Office of Federal Student Aid introduced a workaround for immigrant families grappling with technical glitches. Parents lacking social security numbers have encountered obstacles in adding their financial details and completing the forms.
While this provides a temporary fix for affected parents, Natasha Garfield, the director of scholarships at the Denver Scholarship Foundation, pointed out its unreliability. “The workaround falls short as parental signatures are mandatory in the FAFSA process, and parents without social security numbers are currently unable to provide that signature,” Garfield highlighted.
The Denver Scholarship Foundation highlighted this critical issue during its workshops, underscoring the significance of this aid for students in underserved communities striving towards higher education.
Garfield acknowledged the mixed success rate of utilizing the workaround, emphasizing the need for a permanent resolution. “While the workaround has shown some effectiveness in certain cases, students are still encountering errors in others,” Garfield stated.
Efforts are underway to address these issues by mid-March, although uncertainties persist. Typically, students receive their financial aid packages around this period, but delays have disrupted this timeline.
Most colleges and universities require students to confirm their admission decisions by May 1.
Despite the looming deadline, Garza-Saucedo, a first-generation student, remains resolute in her ambitions. She aims to pursue higher education to honor her parents’ aspirations, who migrated from Mexico to the U.S. several decades ago.
“In a way, their dreams are finding fruition through my journey,” Garza-Saucedo expressed.
Some educational institutions, including MSU Denver, have extended their deadlines in response to these challenges.
For additional details on upcoming workshops, please refer to [Organization’s Website].
The adjustments to the 2024-34 FAFSA form implemented on December 31, 2023, aimed to broaden eligibility for federal student aid, including Pell Grants, and enhance the user experience.