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The Daily OrangeFAFSA moves online; alters application
By Katie Keating
Posted: 10/30/07, 11:59 PM EST Section: News
Long and convoluted are terms that often describe the financial aid process. However, many professionals are now trying to make financial aid applications easier to understand.
The Department of Education is creating a user-friendly Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which adapts to an applicant's personal financial situation.
Stephanie Babyak, spokeswoman for the department, said in an e-mail that the DOE is emphasizing a simpler FAFSA, but not necessarily a shorter one.
Some Syracuse University students are among those who feel flustered by the current financial aid process.
"I never really fully understand those financial forms," said junior Emily Naughton, a junior biology major.
Mark L. Lindenmeyer, director of financial aid at Loyola College in Baltimore, Md., echoed this sentiment. He said a form should have questions at the beginning of the application about family socioeconomic status. The new format would eliminate further questions that do not apply to a student's particular situation.
"We're assured that we are getting all the information that we need to in order to make a valid and accurate judgment about the family's ability to pay," Lindenmeyer said.
For example, if the applicant doesn't own a home, then he or she would not have to complete further questioning about mortgage payments or house equity.
Naughton would like to eliminate the assets section of the form because she knows people who lost some financial aid after declaring assets.
"They get screwed over on it," Naughton said. "I think they should probably take that into account because it is kind of counting money that they don't have."
Presently, the College Board offers an application called CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE that eliminates sections based on a student's financial situation. Academic institutions can also make their own financial aid form called "institutional methodology," Lindenmeyer said.
It is unknown what involvement the PROFILE form will play in the renovated FAFSA.
The Department of Education is creating a user-friendly Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which adapts to an applicant's personal financial situation.
Stephanie Babyak, spokeswoman for the department, said in an e-mail that the DOE is emphasizing a simpler FAFSA, but not necessarily a shorter one.
Some Syracuse University students are among those who feel flustered by the current financial aid process.
"I never really fully understand those financial forms," said junior Emily Naughton, a junior biology major.
Mark L. Lindenmeyer, director of financial aid at Loyola College in Baltimore, Md., echoed this sentiment. He said a form should have questions at the beginning of the application about family socioeconomic status. The new format would eliminate further questions that do not apply to a student's particular situation.
"We're assured that we are getting all the information that we need to in order to make a valid and accurate judgment about the family's ability to pay," Lindenmeyer said.
For example, if the applicant doesn't own a home, then he or she would not have to complete further questioning about mortgage payments or house equity.
Naughton would like to eliminate the assets section of the form because she knows people who lost some financial aid after declaring assets.
"They get screwed over on it," Naughton said. "I think they should probably take that into account because it is kind of counting money that they don't have."
Presently, the College Board offers an application called CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE that eliminates sections based on a student's financial situation. Academic institutions can also make their own financial aid form called "institutional methodology," Lindenmeyer said.
It is unknown what involvement the PROFILE form will play in the renovated FAFSA.
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