Why students are freaking out about the FAFSA this year

Issues with the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form have caused severe disruptions in the college admissions process. A delayed rollout and technical glitches have prevented timely delivery of financial aid information, leaving many high school seniors uncertain about their college costs for the upcoming year. This uncertainty complicates their decision-making ahead of the typical May 1 enrollment deadline, as they have not yet received their financial aid offers which are usually available by the end of March. This situation is particularly pressing as some students, such as Taylor Smith, cannot even update their applications with new college choices until mid-April. The updated FAFSA was supposed to make the application process easier and increase eligibility for aid, but instead, it has added stress and uncertainty for students and their families during what is already a pivotal time in their lives.

Source: CNN