The new FAFSA is meant to make applying for college aid easier, but not everyone can access it yet

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Category: Education/Family

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. spokesperson / ˈspoʊksˌpɜr sən / (n.) – a person who represents an organization or group and communicates on their behalf to the public or media
    Example:

    The company’s spokesperson held a press conference to address the recent issues about their product.


  2. beta / ˈbeɪ tə / (n.) – a testing phase or version of a product, software, or service that is made available to a limited number of users for testing before its official release
    Example:

    The company released a beta version of its new app to gather user feedback and identify any potential issues before its official launch.


  3. complicate / ˈkɒm plɪˌkeɪt / (v.) – to make something more difficult to do or deal with
    Example:

    The recent change in regulations has complicated our business operations.


  4. hashtag / ˈhæʃˌtæg / (n.) – a word or phrase used on social media platforms to categorize and group posts related to a specific topic or theme
    Example:

    Many people use the hashtag “#ThrowbackThursday” to share old photos or memories on social media every Thursday.


  5. supplement / ˈsʌp ləˌmɛnt / (v.) – to add something extra or additional to complement or enhance something, typically to improve or complete it
    Example:

    The teacher supplements her lessons with interesting stories to make learning more enjoyable.


Article

Read the text below.

A new online application designed to make applying for federal student aid easier went live last month, but not everyone has been able to access it.


The FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, typically opens at the beginning of October, but it was delayed three months due to the launch of the new application. Then, a few days before the launch date, the Department of Education announced that a soft launch would continue until all of the bugs in the new application were fixed.


As of 6:30 p.m. January 4, the department had received over half a million successful submissions, according to a spokesperson. Every year, more than 17 million students fill out the FAFSA, which uses financial information from students and their families to determine whether they can get financial aid from the federal government to pay for college.


When Nancy Dunn of Seven Hills, Ohio, got access to the application through her phone on January 6, she immediately ran to her computer to complete it, only to find it was unavailable again.


The beta testing-like process has complicated financial aid advisors’ communication with students, said Helen Faith, director of the Office of Financial Aid at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.


Usually, Faith’s team sends emails to let students know when they should start applying and what they should keep in mind for their application. But that’s been challenging this year.


The Department of Education did not initially say when or for how long the application would be available. People are using the #fafsa hashtag to share their experiences and frustrations on social media.


Katherine Beeman has tried at least 20 times to access the FAFSA application for her daughter. “I just need to get it done because if I have to supplement her aid, I need to plan ahead,” she said.


Dunn said the FAFSA process reminded her of Ticketmaster’s issues with concert tickets earlier this year. However, unlike getting tickets to see Taylor Swift, she said, everyone should get access to the FAFSA.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • In your opinion, is it normal for new online systems, such as the FAFSA application, to face challenges during the testing phase? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Which do you find to be more reliable and user-friendly: traditional systems or online systems? Why? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • In your opinion, how effective is the use of a hashtag, such as #fafsa, for individuals seeking to communicate their experiences and challenges related to a specific issue? Have you ever used a hashtag? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • How important do you think it is for individuals to voice their concerns and frustrations together on social media platforms? In your opinion, can this collective action lead to meaningful improvements? Why or why not? Discuss.