Georgia Gwinnett College will operate its Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Completion Center for an extra month, until Aug. 1, citing the high demand for the service.
The school opened the drop-in center in April to assist students struggling with the delays and technical glitches that have snarled the U.S. Department of Education’s online system for applying for federal college loans and grants.
In a typical year, students can start filling out a FAFSA in early October. But because of an application redesign intended to simplify the process, the system didn’t launch until late December. That, combined with ongoing delays, have forced students and colleges to scramble to complete the form.
FAFSA filings are down, leaving Georgia college-bound students in limbo Georgia Gwinnett said more than 400 students have visited its completion center in Lawrenceville over the last several months. The college planned to close up the center on June 30, but demand was high enough to warrant keeping it open longer.
Financial aid staffers, including some local high school guidance counselors hired to help out in the summer, are available to answer students’ questions. The center is equipped with laptops so students can fill out the form on site.
In addition to assisting students enrolled at Georgia Gwinnett, the center will also help students headed to college elsewhere.
“We’re glad to help students through this process so they can start or continue their academic journey without stress or worry,” said Kimberly Jordan, Georgia Gwinnett’s financial aid services executive director, in a statement.
July 6 remains the deadline for Georgia Gwinnett students to submit a FAFSA in order to guarantee federal aid is ready to pay tuition by the start of the fall semester. However, the school will continue to process applications that come in after the deadline and assist students with questions. Classes start Aug. 12.
The center is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and is located in Room 2161 of the student center.
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