The New York State Department of Education encourages high school seniors to take advantage of any potential grant money or financial aid through FAFSA. During the pandemic, the federal student aid applications were low, and educators want to change that.

Nicole Burnett the Onpoint for College program co-director, working with students like Cicero-North Syracuse senior Lordis Nicholson on her future plans, including her FAFSA application. 

Research shows that 90% of seniors who complete their FAFSA forms attend college directly out of high school, compared to the 55% that don’t complete FAFSA heading straight to college.

Niagara University is one of eight universities where Lordis has been accepted so far. Being accepted to one, much less eight universities, can be an arduous application process. Burnett has helped hundreds navigate all the daunting forms.

What You Need To Know

  • FAFSA has launched a new app

  • Fewer financial and other questions are now required, making the process easier for students and families

  • Now, the last two years of tax returns can be used in the process to boost your odds

“Some of the struggle that I see is the financial part of it. Students and their families struggle with that they are asking for certain information that they're not sure about," said Burnett. “The first thing you have to do for the FSA ID column is create one and it's asking for your basic personal information."

Lordis, a twin, and one of five children, juggles a big course load at C-NS, working part-time, and competing on the school's cheerleading team. She said she needed the support of Onpoint to complete her FAFSA forms.

“The FAFSA application process, it’s been very long because I’m very busy. I have school, then I have practice and by the time I’m home, it’s eight o’clock. My parents didn’t know what to do with this process either, so Onpoint really helped us.” said Lordis.

Recent adjustments have streamlined FAFSA for applicants like Lordis, including a new FASFA app, as well as other changes.

“Another positive is that they have minimized some of the questions that are on the FAFSA application, and they simplified it,” said Burnett.

Timeliness on turning in applications could yield greater returns.

“While you're applying for the school also apply for FAFSA, They have some grants out there that are on a first-come-first-served basis," said Burnett.

“I really didn't think that I would get accepted to any school, so it really made me feel good about myself," said Lordis.

Now she cheers others on to complete their FAFSA, too.

Another helpful change is that families can use tax returns from either of the prior two years to complete FAFSA forms.

NYSED says research shows that in 2018 alone, New York students lost out on more than $152 million in college aid and grants by not filling out the FAFSA.

Onpoint for College will hold in-person and virtual free FAFSA support sessions in March, April, June and July.