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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.
tnessabeall
about 1 month ago
AWWWWWWEEEEESSSSOOOOOOMMMMEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LonnieT14
about 1 month ago
How about some information involving non-traditional students. I'm 38, I have rent, a car payment and elderly parents. I can't get a Pell grant because I "make too much". I would only make too much if I was living with my elderly parents for free and not driving a car.
JasmineK144
about 1 month ago
i agree bridget!!!!!!!!
BridgetJ69
about 1 month ago
I think the government should give each student the same flat amount to put towards college. After all they say it is our tax money that is helping to pay for it. So the way I see it, is the more you work and put into the education fund, the less you are qualified to receive. This doesn't make sense to me. It is not fair that some people come out of college with no debt and didn't have to work and the gov. paid for it. Others are coming out of college with thousands of dollars of debt and received no financial aid because they worked too much.
megalynn
2 months ago
I think they should do away with the parent section altogether unless you're underage or you are completely dependent on your parents. I currently live with my mother but she refuses to help me in any way and I support myself.
mrobeng
2 months ago
I am glad there are some changes to the FASFA form. I am glad there is a president that recognizes that there are plenty of places that need to change. The form isn't that difficult but can be time consuming which can deter potential students from even trying to apply. Thanks President Obama for encouraging us to improve ourselves.
RN, BSN Nurse--with a daughter in Pre-Vet school. should you consolidate your student loans?
BrittanyL1422
2 months ago
Oops, it may not be working this way either!!! lol
AlixD3
2 months ago
I think that what the President has done is going to help out our students alot more. I am one that didnt fill out the applcation due to its length and how hard it was to understand, now I believe that I will be able to complete the application and finally get help to pay for college.
MsOctober78
2 months ago
In my opinion, I think that this is the only President that cares about Education. Thx Mr. President because I want to go back to college and complete my education and start my career as a teacher. There aren't many Minority teachers where I'm from.
AshleyH2151
2 months ago
I think if the government should add more money to college funds because out of state tuition s to high and people don't have that kind of money to be giving to the colleges all day. President Obama should come up with some more funds because we are going broke. I love the president and Mr. obama we need more money.
JasmineG680
2 months ago
What a relief! This will really make the application process easier. Thank You President Obama --we are all counting on you!
maeann2308
2 months ago
What about the budget cuts in California and increasing our pays in Colleges..??
What the heck is the our governor doing??!!
Squillium_dushbag
2 months ago
i think that is cool and obama is th e best prez. just hope our future does not end up in a finicial crisis...yeh but thanks Mr. O B PREZ!!!
VictoriaM728
2 months ago
THANK YOU OBAMA!!!
DominickC26
2 months ago
thanks obama for eveything