Michael Milone, PhD
Educational Consultant, Research Psychologist, and Writer
The help can come from a friend or family member, a school counselor, a person at a college, or another source. How important is getting help with financial aid forms? A study to answer this question was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. A group of high school seniors was able to complete a simplified version of the regular federal application for student financial aid. They also had help completing the form. Those students were 30% more likely to enroll in college the next fall than were students in a control group. The control group had no assistance. The form is called the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA can be a challenge, and it usually takes several hours to complete. It involves more than a hundred questions, and many of them deal with family tax information.
In short, get help to complete the college aid forms. Don’t be embarrassed to ask for help, and be persistent in trying to get it. The US Department of Education recently improved the forms to streamline the process, but that is only part of the solution. With relatively little effort, you can get the help you need, and it will have a huge effect on your getting into college and receiving aid. In addition to your school counselors, you might be able to get help from nonprofit groups such as the National College Attainment Network.
Brendan Coughlin
Former President of Education Finance
Citizens Financial Group
It is completely incumbent upon the student and their parents or guardians to apply for financial aid, but there are lots of places to turn to for support and advice along the way. Many banks have a special section on their websites for students that provides tools and resources to help navigate the process of planning and budgeting for college. Every school has a unique timeline and process though, and we always encourage students and parents to consult with the financial aid office at the university for advice.
Feel like you don’t have anyone to help you navigate the process of paying for college? Let us be your guide—check out the useful articles and advice in our Financial Aid section!