​Financial aid application opens Oct. 1

According to Eastern Michigan University’s Office of Financial Aid, 76 percent of undergraduate students receive some type of financial aid. This high percentage means that many students at EMU are eager to fill out their FAFSA forms once they become available for the upcoming school years to ensure that they receive the most aid that they can to pay tuition bills.

Last year President Obama announced that the FAFSA application would begin to open for the 2017-2018 academic year on Oct. 1, 2016 instead of its previous Jan. 1 opening date. This new date has left some students in confusion, wondering if this means that they must rush to fill out their applications sooner. Although the application is opening on Oct. 1 this year, the June 30 deadline that has been previously used will remain the same.

This means that the same tax information use or estimate from their 2016-2017 applications will be used. Students and families will no longer have to wait until their taxes are done in April to complete their FAFSA applications because their taxes will already be done 5-6 months before the application is available. All applications will continue to use the tax information provided from their previous tax season, not their current one.

“With all things, there will be growing pains while we all adjust to the new timeline, but overall I believe this is one of the best things to happen in the financial aid world during the last 10 years,” says Kelly Schneider of EMU’s Financial Aid Office.

The Financial Aid Office has worked hard to inform students of this change, including information on it during all outreach events and posting reminders on their Twitter and Facebook page. In addition to the Financial Aid Office sending out information, the Holman Learning Center, campus housing, and Academic Success offices have sent out information to their populations.

The Office of Financial Aid will host their annual FAFSA Friday event to assist students and families in filling out their FAFSA application on Oct. 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in 110 Halle.

Schneider says to avoid problems with applications later, “Double check the information you have entered prior to submitting the FAFSA.” Additionally, anyone seeking help can email financial aid at financial_aid@emich.edu or seek walk-in advising Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Student Center located in McKenny Hall. Below is a chart with information taken from FinancialAidToolKid.Ed.Gov that may clear up some confusion.