Written By: Hannah Nasluchacz, Staff Writer
FUTURE: High school students are faced with the question: Why should I fill it out?
Every year students are required to submit the FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This form allows students to apply for work study programs, federal grants, and loans. Without this form they are unable to do so. According to the United States Government Federal Student Aid websites, filling out the FAFSA is “easier than ever.”
What are the steps to completing the FAFSA? The process from start to finish involves: filling out a request for an FSA ID to submitting the FAFSA application, takes more than a single day to complete. After submitting the request for an ID, it will take multiple days for it to come to you. You will also need a ton of your parents financial information, including their income tax. Then, after that, you can start filling out the FAFSA. Make sure to answer the questions as accurately as possible to insure the correct determination.
Poly students are wondering why filling one is a graduation requirement if they are not enrolling in a college after high school. Keilani Shoulder, a current junior, is wondering about her fate next year. Instead of attending college or a trade school, she will be going on a mission. So that leaves the question: Does she have to fill it out? “ I [will] be doing something that is supposed to help me go to college but I’m not even going to college.” Shoulder announced confusion on why it is a graduation requirement.
Other students like, senior Natalie Ramirez, see the positive side of the requirement saying that filling out the FAFSA “ benefits you.” She can also see why it could be frustrating having it as a requirement because “people forget and [some students’] parents work late hours, not being able to help.” Other students like Hayley Bullock, a current senior, fully agree with this graduation requirement stating that it keeps doors open for students by receiving the “opportunity of financial aid and provid[ing] options.”
As students transition into adulthood, they will be getting jobs, going to college, taking a gap year, whatever it looks like for that person. The lingering thoughts of filling out the FAFSA on time bothers many, but Poly High School has thrown in an incentive at those who choose to fill it out early. If students fill it out in a timely manner they get two extra graduation tickets. So, if you have a huge family that wants to all come support you for your graduation, please fill out the FAFSA before March 2nd. As it’s written on every counselors google classroom page “** Completing the FAFSA/CA Dream Act is a graduation requirement!!” So get to filling it out seniors, unless you don’t want to graduate. Whether you want to or not, it is a requirement. Get it done!