FAFSA 2024-2025 Application Deadline Extended to December 2023 & The New FAFSA

The Federal Student’s Aid Office, which is under the US Department of Education, announced the delay of two months in the opening of the Federal Application for Student Aid or FAFSA 2024. The announcement came on 20th September. The changes in the FAFSA deadline 2024 - 2025 in regards to the opening date will only affect the FAFSA application 2024-2025. However, the significant changes in the FAFSA will continue post the 2024-2025 academic year. 

“The FAFSA 2024 forms will be available in December 2023 instead of 1st of October,” said a flyer in the FAFSA’s official Instagram channel.  To be noted is that the caption, “Get ready for a new FAFSA experience & a smoother application process,” promises a better FAFSA application process in 2024 25. 

The students are guided via Instagram to the official website of the Federal Student Aid’s office, i.e. https://studentaid.gov/. The website released a video on its YouTube channel announcing the six key changes, which include the involvement of spouses or stepparents as a contributor. Once the FAFSA application 2024 will complete, students may send it to 20 institutes, trade or career schools, according to one of the FAFSA changes 2024 - 25.

The contributor mentioned above is a new term included in the changes to FAFSA 2024. A contributor is related to the student and is able to share information, provide consent and sign the FAFSA form.

According to the latest news, the changes in FAFSA have made students reconsider their plans over the changes to FAFSA 2024. The concerns of students include their inability to choose their college due to a lack of financial aid offers before December. The outcry was seen in the FSA’s Instagram post. 

“It will be difficult to make easy decisions when it comes to choosing the college or course? We are supposed to make a huge financial choice without even knowing what financial aid we receive?” reads a top comment. 

Applying to other scholarships and student grants apart from FAFSA can be a way out, according to Mr. Gabriel.

The delayed opening of the FAFSA 2024 application will affect high school seniors majorly as it’s high time for them to decide the college based on the aid offers.

Gabriel Smallwood, College Advisor at Clarke Central High School, says, “Due to the rolling admissions, the financial aid cannot be extended to all the students in the absence of their FAFSA”.  “Students will not be able to know how much grant or aid they will receive until the submission of FAFSA application”, he added. 

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The students are instructed to stay updated until the dates of the new 2024 FAFSA are released. Alongside, the students with login IDs on the website will receive an email or notification, while others are advised to create an account. Adding further, the FSA’s website announcement asked students to follow the office’s social media channels for more updates.

Gabriel Smallwood has recommended students check the FSA’s website regularly and stay in touch with school leaders and principals for FAFSA 2024 updates. He also talks about his excitement to see the new changes to FAFSA 2024 25.

In conclusion, students need to approach the new FAFSA, the new application process and date optimistically. The Education Department of the USA wants students to keep faith and wait for the more dynamic and student-friendly FAFSA application process for 2024-2025. Want to know more about the new rules in FAFSA? Stay tuned to amber news. You can also follow us on YouTube for a daily dose of awesome content.