Every year, seniors across the country face the same problems when trying to complete the FAFSA, and Westerville South is no different. Even though the FAFSA is required for most types of financial aid, many students delay filling it out or avoid it altogether because of stress, or just not knowing where to start.
To help students know how to complete their FAFSA, I created a step-by-step FAFSA tutorial, but I wanted to understand on a deeper level what fellow classmates are actually experiencing. So I began asking seniors about their progress, their struggles, and how they really feel about the process.
What I found is that many students deal with the pressure of the overall experience of being a senior so they take their time.
Senior Yui Seki has not completed her FAFSA yet, and she explained that it was due to the college process being so overwhelming. She stated, “For someone who hasn’t done it, I think the best thing you can do is finish it as soon as possible.”
Seki also shared that she plans to complete it with her parents and wanted other seniors to know that “it takes time, so make sure you do your stuff.”
Her experience portrays what many seniors feel. Students know they need to get it done, but the stress of college decisions, after-school activities, etc, makes the process so much harder to start.
Other seniors who have completed their FAFSA, often received help from those around them. Senior Wilson Stewart finished his FAFSA with help from his mom and his advisor. He described the process as “ useful” and said, “Get it done, it’s important.”
Another senior, Amaya Quander shared a similar experience. She filled hers out with her mom and said she had no major issues. Her advice for upcoming seniors was direct.“Get it done early and make sure you know your information,” Quander said.
For many students, the process is very manageable but help is often very needed.
Across all the interviews there was a common theme that constantly appeared again and again. Students know FAFSA matters, but most of the responsibility ends up falling on parents or advisors. This is in no way a bad or shameful thing but sometimes that can lead to delays, stress, or misunderstandings about financial aid, which is why guides and resources are so important, especially for students who may not have much support at home.
After speaking with seniors, it became clear that the FAFSA process is not just a form. It is something that can shape a student’s future after high school, and many students wish they had clearer instructions.
Through both the tutorial video and this investigation, my goal is to help seniors feel less overwhelmed and more confident about taking this step. Whether students are completing it with parents, advisors, or on their own, the most important message everyone agreed on was simple. Get it done early, know your information, and do not wait until it becomes stressful.
