Comments on: The FAFSA May Be On The Way Out

By: An Update on the Simplified FAFSA Form « JerseySmarts.com

An Update on the Simplified FAFSA Form « JerseySmarts.com — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:32:59 +0000

[…] to the RSS feed for updates on this topic.Powered by WP Greet BoxA few months ago I wrote about how the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) was being prepared for a major revision under the new administration. Well, I received an e-mail the day before […]

By: Jacob Spades

Jacob Spades — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:55:02 +0000

My younger brother and I have had 6 years of experience filling out those forms. Needless to say, any time my parents hear ‘FAFSA’ they turn and run in the other direction, even compare it to the education system’s form of tax season. I’m sure if they knew we’d even have a chance to get a dime in aid then they wouldn’t be so apprehensive but in all of these years we were never once considered.

I agree with the lack of constructive feedback after having a decision rendered. We never really learned why we aren’t eligible for any of those funds, but we think it’s because we ‘make too much money’ (dad is a pharmacy manager and mom is self-employed). Nevermind the fact that they have 4 children, and all boys at that, to provide for and the enormous amount of taxes taken out of their paychecks. After the dust settles, we usually have to fend for ourselves, and in times like these it’s now always that easy!

By: Marty Hawrysko

Marty Hawrysko — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 04:45:16 +0000

I hated filling out those FAFSAs. I am part of the lazy generation in that regard, however, I never paid any consultants to fill those out. They are long and boring, and they just take a matter of time. That’s what life consists of, so if you’re not willing to stomach it in college, then it doesn’t say much about your ambitions once you enter the “real world.”

By: Joe

Joe — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:59:23 +0000

Completely agree. After doing a few of these things they’re definitely not hard. Annoying? Sure. But what government form isn’t annoying?

I find it remarkable that our society has reached a point where instead of trying to lift all people to a certain level of understanding when it comes to a form like, we – instead – are trying to dumb down the form.

But like I said, I think the entire process is broken so dumbing down the form on its own isn’t good enough.

By: SableMinded

SableMinded — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 20:15:47 +0000

I can’t believe parents and students think the FAFSA form is too “cumbersome” to fill out. Wow. In my opinion, that simply speaks to the status of a very, very lazy generation (mostly our generation, but our parents’ generation is certainly no better). I don’t consider myself representative of this, and I filled out every single one of my FAFSA forms (three for undergrad, one for graduate) by myself, asking my parents for their info and whatnot. I understand that some families are not as open with each other, but honestly: It’s truly not “that complicated.” I agree that it is tedious, and I remember never looking forward to filling out a tax-form-like document. But seriously, paying a consultant?? Ridiculous. This is why society is crumbling to the floor as we speak. Despite its problems (I also agree about the FAFSA report, it doesn’t say much of anything or explain anything in detail), there was/is/should be a TON of free Federal and state money for students to tap into. For them and/or their parents to whine about is obscene.