The new FAFSA is meant to make applying for college aid easier, but not everyone can access it yet
ABC News
A new online application designed to make applying for federal student aid easier went live this week, but not everyone has been able to access it
NEW YORK -- A new online application designed to make applying for federal student aid easier went live this week, but not everyone has been able to access it.
That's led to worry and frustration for students like Simea Turner of Arlington, Texas, who will be a college freshman in the fall. Turner has been trying to access the application known as the FAFSA since Sunday, but she hasn't been able to get past the first question.
“I’m nervous because I really need this money,” said Turner, a first-time applicant who expects to receive a significant amount of aid.
The FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, typically opens at the beginning of October, but it was delayed three months due to the launch of the new application. Then, a few days before Sunday's launch date, the Department of Education announced that a soft launch would continue until all of the bugs in the new application are fixed.
As of 6:30 p.m. Thursday, the department had received over half a million successful submissions, according to a spokesperson. Every year, more than 17 million students fill out the FAFSA, which uses financial information from students and their families to determine whether they can get financial aid from the federal government to pay for college.
