This is typically a nervous time of year for high school seniors and their parents as they await financial aid eligibility notices from colleges and universities. A financial aid offer is often a critical part of the decision-making process when selecting a school.
Unfortunately, families and colleges are more jittery than usual this year because there has been a serious delay in processing the all-important Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The pace of processing has been extremely slow due to revisions to the entire system. Several technical problems have caused further delays. According to the National College Attainment Network’s FAFSA tracker, about one-third of the high school class of 2024 submitted a FAFSA by late March. That compares to almost half of the high school class of 2023 at the same time last year.
If you are a high school senior who plans to attend college in the fall, we encourage you to file a FAFSA right away if you have not already done so. If you have already filed a FAFSA but you are experiencing problems with processing, reach out immediately to the colleges you are interested in to let them know of your concerns.
Students who are still awaiting financial aid award letters and may be in jeopardy of missing a college’s admissions deposit deadline should contact colleges right away to request a deadline extension. Many colleges are not officially changing their deposit deadline, usually May 1 at four-year schools, but are quick to grant extensions when requested. As one of our colleagues said, her university is practicing “exceptional flexibility” when it comes to the deposit deadline.
The main message here is this: while it may be frustrating, don’t be disheartened. Keep plugging away and stay in contact with the financial aid and admissions offices at the colleges you are interested in attending. Locally, SUNY Jamestown Community College, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, and St. Bonaventure University will provide guidance if you need assistance.
(Betsy Gingerich is a former financial aid professional and the spouse of Dr. Jeff Gingerich, president of St. Bonaventure University. Mary Piccioli was a long-time director of financial aid at St. Bonaventure.)
