Crookston High School seniors and parents met in the CHS auditorium Wednesday night to discuss and help set up Free Applications For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Crookston High School Guidance Counselor Tara Klein and UMC Financial Aid Director Crystal Hanson set up a slide show presentation and walked through each step in setting up the financial aid process. One change that FAFSA has made heading into 2024 was the IRS income/tax forms that students and parents must complete. “The biggest change is that you have to consent to this form,” said Klein, “It’s the data exchange now. So now there’s a button you have to click that says ‘yes, I give consent,’ so you have to make sure you do that.” The IRS document on the FAFSA form now shows a check box on the top of the page that parents must check after reading. Therefore, your child can receive the appropriate aid.
Another change that FAFSA has created is the format in which the document stands. Previously, FAFSA presented one lengthy document that the parent and child could electronically sign. Now, the document layout prohibits the child and parent from marking the same document. “The student will fill out their portion of it and electronically sign it,” said Klein, “Then they will put in their parent’s email to get their parent’s portion of the FAFSA form to their parent. The parent will then log in with their FSA ID, and it will only allow the parent to view the parent portion.”
Common questions that parents may ask during this process are: How do I fill out a FAFSA form with a divorced household? Now, we have different occupations, and our income has been affected. What are our next steps?
“You still have to fill out the FAFSA based on your 2022 status,” said Klein, “Your income and your taxes. Any major changes that come about, you have to connect with whatever institution you will be attending, and they can override or make changes based on that information.”
There will be another opportunity for parents and students to have questions answered about their FAFSA forms on Wednesday, January 24, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the CHS Commons area. Both Klein and Crystal Hanson will be available for individual help.
