What is FAFSA, anyway?

As October comes to a close, many seniors have already filled out their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), but many are still left with the question, what is FAFSA? Although not officially due until June, many like to get these essential forms off by the beginning of November, especially for those who submitted their college applications back in August (which is also early, as most school applications are not due until January). 

FAFSA determines the amount of financial aid that a prospective or current college student will receive. Many people do not fill out the FAFSA form believing that they will not get any financial aid, even when they will. According to a survey by Discover Loans in 2017, “only 45% of parents filled out FAFSA.” The same survey found that “74% of parents said they are very or somewhat worried about having enough money to pay for their child’s college education.” 

While FAFSA is vitally important for getting financial aid, it can be very intimidating to start. Students are not alone in this battle: parents, teachers, and counselors are all there to help make applying for financial aid a smooth process. First, a prospective student must create an FSA ID. From there, they can begin to fill out the FAFSA form with the assistance of their parents. At Waukee, the Counselor Connection Canvas page has information on both of these things, making it easy for students to fill out. 

There are several other important things for students to remember as they fill out their FAFSA forms and create their FSA ID. Students should not use their school email addresses when they create their ID; students should use a permanent email address. Again, FAFSA should be completed by all students, regardless of whether or not they believe they will receive any financial aid. Finally, the last day one can submit their FAFSA forms for this round of applications is June 30, 2022, although many choose to do so much earlier. 

FAFSA is already open for students to fill out. With the support of counselors, parents, and so many sources out there for students to use, students can very easily send off their financial aid forms and put them behind them, another thing off of their checklist.