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President Obama Simplifies the FAFSA for You
By Kathryn Knight
June 24, 2009
In a statement today, the Obama Administration announced sweeping changes to the FAFSA. Families filling out the FAFSA will no longer have to go through such a painstaking process just to see if they qualify for aid. With the new changes, the online FAFSA will see a drop from 30 screens of questions to 10, according to CNN.
The goal, according to the press release issued today by the U.S. Department of Education, is to “increase postsecondary enrollment, particularly among low- and middle-income students” through a more simplified process. Some of these changes have been put into effect already while the rest will span out over the course of a few months, culminating in the January 1, 2010 release of the newer, simpler FAFSA.
Changes to the FAFSA, according to the U.S. Department of Education:
- Instant estimates of Pell Grant and student loan eligibility—went into effect May 2009.
- Skipping questions. If you’re 24 or married, you can skip questions about your parents’ finances. Or if you’re a male over 26, you can pass over questions regarding Selective Service Registration—this change will be made throughout the summer.
- Elimination of 25 financial questions. The FAFSA will ask only financial questions that the IRS asks when citizens are filing their taxes—will go into effect in January.
According to The New York Times, an estimated 1.5 million students do not fill out the FAFSA each school year because of its intricacies. With these changes put in place by the Obama administration, the FAFSA will not only be less daunting but will also enable students to continue their education by making the most important financial aid application easier to understand and thereby complete.
To access the U.S. Department of Education’s press release on the new FAFSA as well as more plans from the Obama Administration’s Agenda for College Affordability, click here.
allregion
1 day ago
thank you!
ericdmeeks
1 day ago
Thank you President Obama coming all the way from Memphis TN. Eric Meeks from south Memphis a rough neighborhood. I'm 17 and will be a graduate from George Washington Carver High School. I will graduate on the 22nd of May of the year 2010. I'm looking for scholarships for college, please help me.,your the change we've been needing and i pray that you make a change in my life
melissasavage
1 day ago
See President Obama is the answer to what America needs!
NullN379688
2 days ago
i am a non traditional student and have never been eligible for financial aid I will be graduating next summer with a BA in Criminal Justice I am also applying for the graduate program for social work what kind of help can I get. my husband is very supportive and has financially helped me but right now his job is very slow and we are surviving on his social security and I am going to need help I cannot apply for student loans because my husband is my co signer and we at this time have no income to show
DoraS11
2 days ago
Thank you, President Obama. You're awesome! You should have been President long ago.
HayleyAnneP
4 days ago
my mom completely flipped this last year filling out the fafsa! she had to redo it 3 time!!! all because of stupid things and little errors. this is a complete blessing and now we don't have to worry about my mom flipping out this year! :D
LisaE341
7 days ago
This was an absolute blessing for those of us returning to school.
JoelL134
11 days ago
All thats simplified helps...and may all students we are take advantage of it, once again Barack
got it DONE!@ and 4 school.
Joelligue.
sandralucio
15 days ago
wow.. dammm this makes it more easier now that im a senior and ready to graduate.... dammm u rock Obama!!!!!
mrobeng
17 days ago
What was the need to make it complicated in the first place. Do you have questions about consolidating student loans? The click here for the best resource on student loans
ihellokitty3264
17 days ago
thanks obama this is a lot of help
southernbella
24 days ago
Thank you OBAMA this helped me alot
BrandonM1156
24 days ago
BECAUSE OF BARACK OBAMA I HAVE I BRIGHTER FUTURE...THANKS AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS YOUR UNION!!
TraciJo4
28 days ago
Now if they will change some of the stipulations about being considered dependent or independent we will be fine! That's what has me stuck in a catch 22...
JeremyBrunson53
28 days ago
Thank God for Barack Obama!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!