Diane Adams-White is the Chief College and Career Officer at KIPP New Jersey, where she supports 17 KIPP schools in Camden and Newark through KIPP’s post-secondary counseling program – KIPP Forward. Kenny Reyes is the Director of College and Career Placement, supporting students at KIPP High School in Camden on their journeys to college and careers.

As families wait for this year’s delayed FAFSA to open, they are understandably uneasy about navigating the process and determining their financial plan for college. 

Last year, we saw this anxiety firsthand for our students, and it impacted how many students were able to matriculate. We had never seen anything like it in our two decades working in education. This year, the form will be available later than usual, and it’s unclear whether there will be complications as it rolls out. 

To prevent some of the anxiety that comes with the form delay, there are things families can do now to prepare for the process and ensure they can get in their applications as early as possible, and troubleshoot if needed. 

Gather Your Materials

To hit the ground running when the form is released in December, start gathering the materials you will need now. This includes creating an FSA ID, which will serve as a legal signature on the application. Students and at least one parent, if they are going to help support the student in paying for college, should both create an ID. Parents and students (if they have filed taxes) should also have their most recent tax return at the ready.

Talk to College Admins

Know you are not in this alone: reach out to your student’s college counselor with any questions you may have and any individual circumstances that may make gathering this information difficult. 

Consider Additional Supports

While FAFSA serves as a great starting point to determine how much families will need to save and budget for college, there are other ways to offset the price. Because students may receive their financial aid offer later than usual, consider the full portfolio of potential scholarships and grant opportunities and apply to them as early as possible. Beyond federal aid, there is a wealth of other resources, like state-sponsored grants; merit or need-based aid from universities; private scholarships provided by nonprofits, corporations and community organizations; employer-tuition assistance; military aid; and support from cultural and/or religious groups.   

Appeal

Once you receive your financial aid offer, if you are unable to afford the proposed package, do not hesitate to appeal. An appeal, especially if there have been changes in your financial situation, can make a big difference. Including the most up-to-date financial information will give your appeal the best chance of success. You may also consider reaching out to a prospective college’s financial aid department directly to see if they have additional funds they can allocate.

Work with Your School Counselor

At KIPP, we have partnerships with select universities that provide fee waivers, updated aid packages, and housing grants, among other support services, particularly for Pell-eligible students and/or first-generation college students. Some high schools may cover fees themselves for certain students- we did this for our first graduating class. It is important to work with your counselor and be transparent about your individual circumstances to ensure they are able to provide the best possible support. 

While this new system may not have all the kinks worked out just yet, no student should be robbed of this pivotal moment in their educational career, especially due to bureaucratic failures. If there is any lesson to be drawn from this ongoing debacle, it is that college access cannot solely depend on government solutions. Lean on your school counselor to work with you to create a plan that considers your family’s particular needs. It is our goal to see each and every student embark on a pathway that will serve them, allow them to grow, and open a world of possibilities.