The Obama adminstation has made several strides recently to increase access to higher education for American students, initiatives that we, as college students, can usually only applaud.
The latest initiative, to simplify the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is one that we welcome, but with reservations. The FAFSA form is necessary when applying for aid — aid that is essential for most students to attend college — but its complexity and length have intimidated many a family. By eliminating or revising almost 150 questions, the new FAFSA is unquestionably more approachable for families.
But as in most things, knowledge is power. Fewer questions inevitably lead to less information and a less complete picture of a family’s true financial situation. The “typical” American family is no longer typical. Families applying for aid today confront all sorts of issues, from one parent refusing to fund an education; to stepparents balking at having their income factored into a stepchild’s aid package; to families owning several properties but uncomfortable with selling those to fund college given the current economic climate. These are scenarios that aid officers confront on a daily basis, and it’s much easier to calculate aid up front than it is to individually work out the tangles of an aid appeal.
So while we appreciate the efforts at simplification, we would like to see more evidence that this will present a thorough portrait of a family’s financial situation. It’s too important to boil down to a few questions.
