College Parents! The FAFSA May Just Have Gotten Easier!

For many college parents, January means the time has come to sit down and face financial aid forms.  The FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid – is the place where most parents begin.  For years, filling out the FAFSA application has been a long and arduous process. This year, the process may be simpler.  Whether you fill out the FAFSA or your student does, many families will find the process easier this year.  For the nearly 20 million families that file the FAFSA each year, this is good news.

The FAFSA is required for any student applying for financial aid.  It determines the family’s expected contribution according to a congressionally determined formula, and most colleges use this information to determine the amount of aid they will offer.

This month the federal government is releasing a new form, and urging families to file their FAFSA on line.  The paper form contains approximately 107 questions, but the on-line form will skip certain questions based on answers given to previous questions.  In other words, the form will skip questions that don’t apply to you.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Jill Biden, wife of the vice president visited a school in Washington to demonstrate and promote the new FAFSA. Secretary Duncan agreed that the FAFSA has been “really, really, really tough” to fill out, and that it has been an obstacle for many students.  “Folks are working really hard to make it simpler so it’s not a barrier,” Duncan said.

The process may get even easier next year.  Officials are testing a system that will directly download tax return information onto the application.

So don’t hesitate.  Don’t procrastinate.  Get started on your FAFSA form as soon as possible.  It may not be such an ominous task this year!

See a full article about the new FAFSA in The Washington Post.

Get started on your on-line FAFSA here.