FAFSA Delayed Opening Could Affect Low Income Early Decision Applicants
In an effort to simplify the FAFSA, Free Application for Student Aid, application, the application
will not open until December 2023. This delay of two months, the application usually opens
October 1st, could have a big affect on low income families applying Early Decision, ED.
Applying to a college ED is one way students report to alleviate the stressful process of applying
to college and waiting months for a decision of acceptance or rejection. Most students begin
the college application process in September. The process begins with searching and visiting
colleges and completing applications adhering to, most often, an end of year deadline.
Students typically hear back from the colleges they have applied to the following January,
February or March.
However, ED applicants adhere to deadlines which are typically early in November and they
hear back from colleges by December. Students should be aware that the ED application is a
binding. Meaning if a student gets accepted ED to a college and agrees to attend they must with
withdraw all other college applications. The decision is not legally binding, but students often
face consequences if they renege on the acceptance.
Many families base their decision on which college to attend on the amount of aid they will
receive from the government and the particular college. Filling out the FAFSA application is one
of the most important steps in determining the amount of aid a family will receive. This
application is through the Federal Government and the data collected on family income is
forwarded to the colleges that are listed on the application. Colleges offer their own form of aid
to students based on, among other factors, the information sent to them through the FAFSA
application. So that students receive federal aid and school aid.
Since the FAFSA application will not open until December, students will not know how much aid
they are eligible to receive before having to accept their ED offer. This will greatly impact low
income families who rely on financial aid. These families will not be able to make the best most
informed decision for themselves. Applying ED this year may not be the best way to go this
year. Students may want to apply Early Action, EA. EA is way for students to apply early and
hear back early and is non binding. Hopefully FAFSA will iron out the application kinks and will
return to their October opening in 2024.
For more information on Early Decision and Early Action, contact us here at All Four Years
College Coaching.
