New changes to the application for student financial aid and its timeline have caused a Bloomington-Normal high school to find ways to adapt while still providing sufficient guidance for its students.
Back in 2020, the FAFSA Simplification Act was passed with the purpose of providing more students and families with access to financial aid opportunities. Now in the 2023-24 school year, the effects of this law are being seen through major changes to the form.
According to Bloomington High School Associate Principal Sally Kelly, the new FAFSA is more efficient for families because it’s provided in multiple languages, has fewer questions, and tax information is streamlined directly from the IRS. A new formula for calculating financial need has also been introduced this year for more opportunities for Pell Grants.
However, with all the new improvements to the FAFSA, there have been setbacks. While the FAFSA is usually available in October, this school year it wasn’t open until Dec. 31.
“It would have been wonderful if this change could’ve been put off until next year to make sure everything was right,” Kelly said. “The perception of high school counselors, families, and universities is that it was a little bit rushed.”
Because of the delays to the new FAFSA form, there will also be delays in students receiving financial aid packages or offers from universities.
Kelly says the timeline for students to make their college decision will shrink. That's especially difficult for students who rely on financial aid to have a post-secondary education.
At BHS specifically, Kelly encourages students to rely on their counseling center to help them through the entire financial aid and scholarship process.
“They are very knowledgeable about the most valuable scholarship opportunities that are out there,” Kelly said. “Whether that be locally or finding what questions they need to ask to narrow down with a particular student’s family situation what their best path might be.”
Although students and families have had more concerns about the FAFSA than in previous years, the administration and guidance counselors at Bloomington High School have been able to adapt.
Kelly says the guidance counselors and administration have read countless articles regarding the FAFSA as well as hosted a FAFSA family night on Jan. 18 and a senior assembly to answer questions from BHS seniors.
“We’re all in it together,” Kelly said. “Whether that is students filling it out, high school counselors scrambling to try to help, or universities trying to put those packages together for students.”
