Community school supports students navigating FAFSA challenges

Recent high school graduates celebrated their milestone, but concerns linger as the aftermath of the FAFSA complication still affects college decisions for some students.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) underwent changes aimed at simplifying access to financial aid, yet at UCLA Community School, obstacles arose for students due to application issues, causing delays in financial assistance from universities.

Despite the challenging situation, the counseling team at UCLA Community School believes there is a silver lining by utilizing the experience to empower students, particularly first-generation college students, with essential college knowledge to navigate the system effectively.

As a community school, UCLA Community School actively anticipates and addresses the systemic barriers students face, offering comprehensive support and resources in collaboration with community partners.

Two years back, a College and Careers Transition course was established at UCLA Community School to aid seniors in planning their post-high school endeavors. This course became paramount during the FAFSA complications, emphasizing the critical support needed for first-gen college students.

Through partnerships with UCLA, Fulfillment Fund, and Gear Up 4 LA, UCLA Community School facilitated aid access by providing personalized assistance to students and families, ensuring they were well-informed about the FAFSA process.

Despite dedicated class time for FAFSA completion, some students like Nadia faced challenges due to family circumstances, delaying the application submission and creating uncertainty regarding financial aid amounts.

Although Nadia faced obstacles in receiving accurate financial aid information, she eventually secured her aid package and chose to attend USC after considering financial and academic factors. Other students, however, had to make rushed decisions or defer to community college due to uncertain aid situations.

While the FAFSA debacle posed challenges, it also strengthened the resolve of students and families, instilling hope and highlighting the importance of community support in the college access process.

This experience reinforced the vital role of college access programs in assisting first-gen college students in navigating the complexities of higher education.

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Jonathan Oyaga is a research associate for UCLA Center for Community Schooling, a campuswide initiative to advance university-assisted community schools, and an educational aide at the UCLA Community School, working in the College and Career Center to support students’ postsecondary transitions.