Each year, millions of people fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in hopes of receiving college tuition funding. The majority of students enrolled at many California universities receive financial aid, which is often the key to paving the way to a college degree.
A significant number of these students live in households whose members are not permitted to live in the United States. As issues with the revised FAFSA process continue, these applicants continue to have trouble filling out their applications.
“Our primary concern was for students from mixed-status families,” said Shelveen Ratnam, a spokeswoman for the California Student Aid Commission.
The committee oversees a program that secures billions of dollars in financial aid given to applicants who first fill out the FAFSA form.
Applicants in mixed-status households are typically U.S. citizens, but one or both parents or caretakers are in the U.S. without proper authorization. This means you don't need to enter your Social Security number on your application.
How many students will be affected?
Rutnam said it's difficult to say exactly how many California applicants live in mixed-status families, but research suggests it's about 12% of all applicants. It has been suggested. Committee staff are working with college financial aid counselors and high school college advisors to help students fill out forms and be patient through the process.
Need financial assistance?
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Here's how colleges can help you answer FAFSA questions.
- phone: The California Student Aid Commission offers telephone and chatbot assistance.
- Online workshop: CSAC will host more than a dozen “Cash for College” webinars from January to May 2024. Please register here.
- Each office: This CSU portal connects you to financial aid offices (and assistance) on all 23 campuses.
- Please select a campus: Many colleges have detailed instructions on changes to the FAFSA. Check out this one from Cal Poly Pomona. Many other his FAFSA applicants are also available. Campuses may also hold information sessions to help you fill out the form, as was done at UCLA.
Although the FAFSA application has methods to verify the parent's identity other than a Social Security number, such as a state-issued ID, flaws in the process prevent applicants from completing and submitting the application. Can not.
“It remains a concern for us, and we are in communication with leadership at the U.S. Department of Education, as well as officials at CSU and UC,” Ratnam said.
Problem with name
College advisors also report that the FAFSA application does not appear to be designed to handle long Spanish last names, especially those with hyphens.
“The workaround we came up with now is that you have to enter up to 16 characters for that last name. [and] Keep it cut,” Sebastian Ramirez said. He is a college admissions advisor who works with students at Cabrillo High School in Long Beach.
He said the FAFSA issues over the past six months have caused extra stress for students. Students are also juggling Advanced Placement class tests and a long list of senior activities as they finish out their public school careers.
“I don't see any progress…I've had some students say they want to give up,” he said.
But Ramirez continues to encourage students to work on their applications, share updates on revisions, and remind students that submitting their financial aid applications will give them a clearer picture of their college futures. .
“Fortunately, several students have been able to submit in recent weeks. [their applications]”Morale is gradually increasing,” he said.
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Adolfo Guzmán López focuses on the stories of students who try to overcome academic and other challenges in order to stay in college, with the goal of forging a path to a better life.