MILWAUKEE — Applying for financial aid is a critical step in seeking higher education for many Wisconsin families, but this year, they faced some difficulties.
Significant technical issues and delays with the rollout of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application system frustrated many.
In an effort to help, College Possible Wisconsin organized free, one-on-on help sessions with financial aid experts.
During those sessions, students and families can access laptops provided by the organization and get assistance with figuring out FAFSA.
Fernanda Becerra, who’s going into her sophomore year at Marquette University, has attended College Possible’s help sessions. She said she spent months having issues with FAFSA.
“I think I cried the first day because it was so stressful and I couldn’t get anywhere, and I thought, ‘Oh my God, how much am I going to have to pay?’” Becerra said. “My mother is not a U.S. citizen. She doesn’t have a social security number. She just has an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. In the past, using that number worked, but this year, it wasn’t working.”
Megan Keller, a FAFSA specialist with College Possible Wisconsin, said this is a challenge low-income students and families are experiencing nationwide. She said the technical issues are resulting in many deciding to forego college or put dreams of higher education on hold.
“FAFSA completion rates right now are still down about 30% nationwide, and that’s similar in Wisconsin,” Keller explained. “Students weren’t able to log in. If they started getting anywhere — there were points where maybe they would be two or three pages into the FAFSA — and it would just crash or freeze.”
Keller was able to get Becerra’s student loans and financial aid sorted out before fall classes start at Marquette. For Becerra it’s a huge relief, but she said she worries for others.
“I just hope that it gets fixed this year, and it’s easier for everyone next year applying because I know so many who aren’t going to be able to this year,” said Becerra.
College Possible Wisconsin aims to help more young people overcome barriers and get the chance to go to college, especially students in under-resourced communities. It matches students with peer coaches and a curriculum designed to help them navigate the process.
The nonprofit’s last event of the summer will be a FAFSA completion workshop on Friday, Aug. 30, from noon to 2 p.m. at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.