topic College & FAFSA in Community Chat

College & FAFSA

ScrapHappy — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 23:13:25 GMT

For those who have experience with this or going thru it now. My daughter will be heading off to college this fall. We did the FAFSA form and, if you're going thru this now, it has been released late, delayed, etc. WE heard from FAFSA in the beginning of March of what we qualify for and from my understanding it then gets sent to the colleges listed on FAFSA form and then the college sends out their "award letters" which, because of the new FAFSA roll out issues, is also delayed. While watching the news today, they were talking about how students and their families are still waiting to hear from colleges and even though it's very late in the game, to not accept the first FAFSA offfer from the first college you hear from. That got me all confused. Isn't what was offered directly from FAFSA is what to expect from the college? Do they lessen the amount? Do they increase the amount?

Re: College & FAFSA

spumoni99 — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 23:16:32 GMT

@ScrapHappy wrote:
For those who have experience with this or going thru it now. My daughter will be heading off to college this fall. We did the FAFSA form and, if you're going thru this now, it has been released late, delayed, etc. WE heard from FAFSA in the beginning of March of what we qualify for and from my understanding it then gets sent to the colleges listed on FAFSA form and then the college sends out their "award letters" which, because of the new FAFSA roll out issues, is also delayed. While watching the news today, they were talking about how students and their families are still waiting to hear from colleges and even though it's very late in the game, to not accept the first FAFSA offfer from the first college you hear from. That got me all confused. Isn't what was offered directly from FAFSA is what to expect from the college? Do they lessen the amount? Do they increase the amount?

Its been 14 years since we filled out a FAFSA form but it sounds like the colleges may offer additional scholarships.

Re: College & FAFSA

Desertdi — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 23:21:41 GMT

Re: College & FAFSA

nelc — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 23:34:34 GMT

I’m going through the same thing with my daughter.
She received the offer from her preferred school, are they saying not to accept it and wait?
They have extended the deadline to May 15 because of the FAFSA issue.
It’s a very stressful time.

Re: College & FAFSA

ScrapHappy — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 01:40:07 GMT

@nelc wrote:
I’m going through the same thing with my daughter.
She received the offer from her preferred school, are they saying not to accept it and wait?
They have extended the deadline to May 15 because of the FAFSA issue.
It’s a very stressful time.

What I don't understand is this: after the school(s) applied to, what is the offer? Does the offer from the college include FAFSA? The school can't deny, increase or decrease FAFSA that FAFSA itself said you qualified for? I've heard that colleges have received FAFSA information in March but according to some of the colleges I've contacted, they haven't received any information. My daughter has been accepted to the school she wants to attend. We know she isn't receiving any scholarship money.

Re: College & FAFSA

Zoe — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 02:02:21 GMT

In my experience, many schools awarded additional aid beyond what the FAFSA said was needed. This is based on merit/academic excellence, course of study, etc. Out of seven schools, can't think of one that offered just the bare minimum stated in the FAFSA.

Personally, I wouldn't accept the first offer, but ymmv. Ultimately, we waited for every school's package, ran the numbers and selected not the cheapest cost -- but the one that offered the best educational and extracurricular opportunities. Turned out to be a good decision.

Good luck! You'll figure out the best option.

Re: College & FAFSA

OneHappyHiker — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 02:07:08 GMT

@ScrapHappy I never went through this but boy does it sound extremely frustrating and nerve wracking! I'm not sure which schools you already contacted, but I would continue to call your daughter's first choice, talk with the appropriate people in charge of this mess, and ask specific questions and advice on what to do right now so nothing is less than what is deserved. That's the only way she gets her answer on what she's getting so you all can plan.

College is stressful enough to not know what's going on and being fearful you are missing the boat.Stay on it, get transferred to other people who can better help, continue talking to those in charge. Most importantly, be sure you get info for her college of choice so that is all done correctly. FAFSA should also know this information. Someone needs to help you!

Good luck getting all the answers, and good luck to your daughter for a wonderful college experience. Sorry I couldn't help more.

Re: College & FAFSA

nelc — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 02:08:14 GMT

@ScrappyHappy I thought the offer from the college included the FAFSA, but you’re absolutely right if they are delayed in submitting the information to the colleges how can that be.
I don’t understand why they had to change how the FAFSA worked. I didn’t go through this with my son.
We visited her preferred school this weekend and they had a discussion about this. I think my only option now is to have a one on one meeting with the financial aid office and see where we stand.
We are in limbo.

Re: College & FAFSA

OneHappyHiker — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 02:13:02 GMT

@Desertdi wrote:

Thank you @Desertdi for continuing to post pictures of items referred to in posts. I didn't know what FAFSA stood for and was just about to look it up when you posted lol. It's nice having it right on the thread!

Re: College & FAFSA

sunshine45 — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 03:44:35 GMT

@Zoe wrote:
In my experience, many schools awarded additional aid beyond what the FAFSA said was needed. This is based on merit/academic excellence, course of study, etc. Out of seven schools, can't think of one that offered just the bare minimum stated in the FAFSA.

Personally, I wouldn't accept the first offer, but ymmv. Ultimately, we waited for every school's package, ran the numbers and selected not the cheapest cost -- but the one that offered the best educational and extracurricular opportunities. Turned out to be a good decision.

Good luck! You'll figure out the best option.

this is exactly how we handled it @Zoe .

Re: College & FAFSA

FLGators — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 15:04:56 GMT

FAFSA delays & schools making SAT/ACT optional is absolutely turned the admission process upside down. There is grade inflation in some parts of the country & since most schools are test optional, the smart kids suffer. I am going through this with my son, the tuition for public universities is getting beyond ridiculous.

Re: College & FAFSA

Shelbelle — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 15:40:07 GMT

I went thru this with my daughter in the late 90's never offered a dime from FAFSA, so when my son applied in 2001, I never even filled it out, total waste of my time.

Re: College & FAFSA

lgfan — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 15:50:48 GMT

@Shelbelle wrote:
I went thru this with my daughter in the late 90's never offered a dime from FAFSA, so when my son applied in 2001, I never even filled it out, total waste of my time.

When I was in college I was working full time. I knew I didn't qualify for financial aid but before I could get student loans I had to fill out a FAFSA form and get rejected. I then would have to show the school that I didn't qualify for anything before I could get student loans.