The process to apply for federal student aid has been full of delays this year as the Department of Education works through a rocky rollout revising FAFSA.
DENVER — Students, families and universities are trying to plan for the future, but many remain stuck, waiting in a sort of limbo.
The process to apply for federal student aid has been full of delays this year as the Department of Education works through a rocky rollout revising FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Now all the downstream decisions, like where to go to school and how to pay for it, have all been pushed back by months.
“Everyone is struggling. It was supposed to be simpler, and it got a little more difficult,” said Evelyn Aguirre-Rodriguez, a second-year student at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Like so many others on campus, she relies on financial aid to attend school, and said she picked MSU Denver for its affordability.
“I’m hoping for the best because I don’t want to freak out too much. I already feel pretty anxious as it is,” she said.
This is the third year Aguirre-Rodriguez has filled out FAFSA forms. Usually, she said she is quick to complete the process. But this year, between federal delays and technology glitches, she is still unfinished and navigating the process.
Aguirre-Rodriguez also works for MSU Denver’s financial aid office, where she could usually assist other students with the process.
“Usually, I can help out students and recommend what they can do. And 1709818303 they come up and they’re experiencing what I’m experiencing. I’m like – I can’t help myself, I don’t know how to help you!” she said.
“We definitely empathize with our families and the community and financial aid offices everywhere, because we’re essentially all in this together,” said Kerline Eglaus, executive director of financial aid and scholarships at MSU Denver.
“We’re providing continuous updates – explaining what’s going on, what they can do in the meantime. This delay for schools to receive that information does not stop or get in the way of families completing that FAFSA application.”
MSU Denver says 55% of the school’s more than 17,000 students receive some form of scholarship and grants. The university pushed back its FAFSA priority deadline from March to May, and is hosting financial aid workshops on campus.
CU Boulder and CSU pushed back enrollment deadlines an extra month, now to June 1 for first-year students.
In an emailed statement from CU Boulder, Amy Hutton, associate vice chancellor for enrollment management, explained the decision:
“By extending the confirmation deadline, we intend to provide ample time for all students––especially those from Colorado and who are first-generation or have financial need––to gather and assess all information needed to make important decisions about their future education.”
“You have time, let’s complete what you can and wait for updates in the first part of March,” said Eglaus, as MSU Denver tries to ease the anxieties of current and future students. “We are working towards having a quick turnaround to provide financial aid packages hopefully at the beginning of May, assuming no other delays that happen in between.”
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