Focus at Four: Financial Aid expert discusses challenges with FAFSA
BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – Problems with the Federal Application for Student Aid, FAFSA, continue on with the Department of Education now saying colleges should expect to get student data later than usual this year.
Delisa Falks, the Assistant Vice President with Texas A&M’s Department of Scholarships and Financial Aid, said in a typical year FAFSA opens Oct. 1 but didn’t open until late December in 2023.
“They have made the application more streamlined and reduced questions quite a bit,” Falks said. “But with this many big changes, we have seen a couple things happening.”
Falks said the first was the delayed launch followed by intermittent availability. On the day colleges were supposed to get files from the government, they were informed those would be delayed. Falks said they may not get that information until mid-March, which has put Falks and her staff in a holding pattern unable to process anything.
“It’s difficult on the students and parents because a lot of them need this information as they try to make decisions,” Falks said.
Falks believes the delay could impact enrollment for colleges and universities nationwide.
Falks said the most important thing parents and students can do is to be patient as colleges and universities work around not having any information. Falks said she and her staff are working on pushing information out and messaging to let students and parents know what to expect, as best they can.
