Paying for college is stressful, and with the release of the new 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) students around the country seem to be struggling. To help combat confusion on campus, the Grand Rapids Community College Financial Aid Office will be helping enrolled students correctly complete their FAFSA on the main campus, as well as the Lakeshore campus and the Michigan Technological Education Center (MTEC) building beginning Thursday, April 11.
The United States Department of Education announced on April 9 that an estimated 30% of completed FASFAs came through with errors. These errors can prevent students from receiving a timely and accurate summary of how much it will cost to attend college next year.
For students who submitted a FAFSA containing errors, the federal government aims to solve those issues on their own. However, an estimated 16% of applicants will need to go back and correct mistakes. Students will not be able to make these corrections until early next week.
To get help on campus, The Financial Aid Office recommends students bring their 2022 tax documents.
“We want to offer our assistance to anyone that needs help or clarification surrounding the new FAFSA,” the Financial Aid Office staff stated in an email to The Collegiate. “ … We look forward to helping you maximize the financial assistance you might be eligible for by ensuring your FAFSA is completed correctly.”
Help will be available in room 205 of Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall beginning Thursday, April 11 from 2 – 5 p.m. Additional sessions will be held at the times listed below:
- April 15, from 5 – 7 p.m.
- April 16 from 10 a.m. – noon,. and from 3 – 5 p.m.
- April 17 from 2 – 5 p.m.
- April 18 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- April 23 10 a.m. to noon
A session will be held in the MTEC building on April 23 from 3- 5 p.m. in lab room 104. The final session will be available at the Lakeshore campus on April 30 from 4 – 6 p.m. in lab room 132.
