FAFSA Frenzy offers help with applications

October 20, 2016 at 2:19 a.m. | Updated October 20, 2016 at 5:10 p.m.

by Helen Wilbers

This year, for the first time ever, FAFSA applications opened Oct. 1 instead of Jan. 1.
For some parents and students, that simply means more time to plan and an earlier look at possible funding options.
For others, it just means the annual headache begins a little earlier.
"(FAFSA is) an acronym for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid," explained Brenda Krehbiel, site coordinator of the upcoming FAFSA Frenzy event. "It's the application for any type of student aid, and for the state of Missouri it's also the application for some state funding."
FAFSA Frenzy is next Tuesday at the Fulton High School Library.
Volunteers from William Woods University, Westminster College and Columbia College will be on hand to help students and their parents complete the FAFSA for the 2017-18 school year.
Anyone can attend.
"It's targeted more toward seniors in high school that would be attending college in 2017 to 2018, but we will help anyone who wants to come and needs help," Krehbiel said.
On Wednesday, Krehbiel and two other volunteers went to Fulton High School to help students create their FSA IDs, a type of identification required in order to apply for FAFSA and view personal information on a number of related websites.
Students and parents can apply for an FSA ID at the event or online at fsaid.ed.gov.
"Bring your 2015 tax information and W-2 forms, too," Krehbiel said.
At the event, parents and students can fill out the FAFSA form on a computer. If someone hits a trouble spot, he or she can ask a volunteer for help.
Krehbiel said the income information section is the most common sticking point, though it should be less so this year.
"Since the FAFSA is looking back at 2015, hopefully most people have already filed their returns for that year," she said.
An IRS data retrieval tool allows applicants to transfer the relevant information directly into the form.
Krehbiel encourages every college-bound student or parent of such a student to fill out the FAFSA, even if they aren't sure of their eligibility.
"Every student is eligible for a federal loan," she said. "Stop by!"
For more information, visit on.mo.gov/2eShNJk.