After noticing a sharp 1/3 drop in applications this year, the federal government has decided to push back the FAFSA deadline by one month. FAFSA–a federal program that grants college-bound students thousands of dollars in grants, aid, and loans–is a critical component of many students’ ability to afford higher education. Originally slated to be due on March 3rd, FAFSA is now due by April 2nd.
As explained by college counselor Ms. Tatum, “the FAFSA deadline has been pushed back this year because the California Student Aid Commission noticed that fewer students had completed it. There are several reasons for that.”
She continued, “One major factor is that the application opened later than usual—it started on December 1st instead of October 1st, which is the ideal date. There’s also been some hesitancy among students about completing the form because it requires information about citizenship or immigration status. Given the current national political climate, that has created some concerns.”
Ms. Tatum encourages students concerned about immigration status to visit her personally. “If their family has filed taxes, the government already has their information, so they wouldn’t be sharing anything new.”
Ms. Tatum also stated that she has observed a decrease in FAFSA applications this year. “As of now, 65% of our seniors have completed their financial aid form. By the end of last year, we were at about 71%.” She then reiterated the importance of filling out the form, stating that “it can save $9,500 at a community college, $13,000 at a CSU, or up to $32,000 at a UC.”
According to counselor Mr. Chu, the FAFSA system was completely reformed last year, using a new system asking for different information. “That always causes some issues, and some people are having trouble submitting their applications.”
Mr. Chu added, “A common misconception is that students who attend CCSF, which offers free tuition for San Francisco residents, don’t need to apply for FAFSA. But even if tuition is free, students should still apply because FAFSA can provide aid for student service fees, textbooks, and other expenses. It’s essentially free money that they might be passing up.”
If you have any questions related to the FAFSA or college in general, do not hesitate to reach out to your counselor in the counseling office, or Ms. Tatum in room 209 (right next to the main office).
