KHEAA outreach counselors offer ‘FAFSA Boot Camp’ ahead of application deadline

KENTUCKY ( FOX 56 ) — The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education has approved tuition and mandatory fee increases for six public universities across the state and KCTCS, which will go into effect this coming school year.

To help combat changes such as tuition raises, many new and returning college students apply for financial aid, but according to the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority, the federal application process (FAFSA) has been giving several people problems.

For many years, FAFSA forms have been released to the public in October, but this past school year, they were not released until January.

“Think of a high school senior—they get their FAFSA done in January,” said Brandon Brown, an eastern Kentucky senior outreach counselor for KHEAA. “There are issues going on in January. They graduate in May. So, a lot of trying to figure out decision-making. Where are they going to go to school?”

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Brown told FOX 56 he has never had a busier summer trying to help incoming and returning college students with the FAFSA application process.

“One of the major changes was used to they would discount for the number of kids in college in the same family. They no longer do that,” Brown added.

He said recent changes were meant to simplify things, but in reality, they caused disruptions in financial aid offers and delays in college choices for students.

He also noted that returning college students may become less eligible for financial aid, specifically due to changes in the FAFSA formula.

“So that’s another issue, too, because returning students need to make sure they have that financial aid for the next semester or next year,” Brown explained.

That is why a group of counselors is hosting a “FAFSA Boot Camp” for families to attend on Thursday.

Brown said this event will help equip college students and their parents to get their FAFSA processed before the new school year starts.

For those who can’t attend, a FAFSA hotline is available to call from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, until August 15. That number is 888-452-7322.

“Simple questions like, ‘Hey, what do I need to do to add a school to the FAFSA?’ Or, ‘Hey, I need to figure out how my FSA ID. Why can’t I get it to recover?’ Or, ‘Hey, I need to add my parent’s information to the FAFSA.’ We’re able to do that. That’s outreach counselors answering the phone.”

Time is running out to complete the FAFSA. The federal deadline to finish the forms is Sunday.

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