The last thing standing between Ashnaelle Bijoux and her college dream is the FAFSA form — a financial aid application that’s supposed to facilitate students go to college, but is blocking her instead. She has tried to submit it over and over. Every time, it fails to go through.
“I feel overwhelmed and stressed out,” said Bijoux, 19. She came close to tears the last time she tried the form. “I feel like I’m being held back.”
This page requires Javascript.
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kAm}@C>2==J 2 E:>6 @7 46=63C2E:@? 7@C 9:89 D49@@= D6?:@CD[ E9:D DAC:?8 92D 366? >2CC65 3J E96 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?EVD 3@E4965 C@==@FE @7 E96 ?6H upu$p 2AA=:42E:@?] qJ |2J `[ DEF56?ED FDF2==J @DE DE:== 92G6?VE C646:G65 7:?2?4:2= 2:5 @776CD] %9C66 >@?E9D 367@C6 E96 DE2CE @7 72== 4=2DD6D[ >2?J 5@?VE
kAmQ(6VC6 2D<:?8 E96> E@ >2<6 AC@323=J @?6 @7 E96 3:886DE 7:?2?4:2= 564:D:@?D — 2?5 564:D:@?D E92E H:== 92G6 E96 3:886DE :>A=:42E:@?D @? E96:C =:G6D 8@:?8 7@CH2C5 — H:E9@FE 2== @7 E96 :?7@C>2E:@?[Q D2:5 yFDE:? sC2686C[ AC6D:56?E 2?5 rt~ @7 E96 }2E:@?2= pDD@4:2E:@? @7 $EF56?E u:?2?4:2= p:5 p5>:?:DEC2E@CD]k^Am
kAm%96 upu$p[ @C uC66 pAA=:42E:@? 7@C u656C2= $EF56?E p:5[ H6?E E9C@F89 2 >2DD:G6 @G6C92F= E92E H2D DFAA@D65 E@ >2<6 :E D:>A=6C 2?5 D9@CE6C] qFE 2 D6C:6D @7 3=F?56CD 3J E96 t5F42E:@? s6A2CE>6?E >256 :E 92C56C E92? 6G6C[ 56=2J:?8 4@==686 564:D:@?D 3J >@?E9D 2?5 C2:D:?8 762CD E92E 9F?5C65D @7 E9@FD2?5D @7 DEF56?ED H:== 7@C8@ 4@==686 6?E:C6=J]k^Am
kAmp4C@DD E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D[ E96 ?F>36C @7 DEF56?ED H9@ 92G6 DF446DD7F==J DF3>:EE65 E96 upu$p 😀 5@H? ahT 7C@> E9:D E:>6 =2DE J62C[ 2?5 :EVD 6G6? H@CD6 2E D49@@=D H:E9 >@C6 =@H:?4@>6 DEF56?ED[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 }2E:@?2= r@==686 pEE2:?>6?E }6EH@C<]k^Am
kAm%96 8C@FAVD rt~[ z:> r@@<[ H2C?65 >6>36CD @7 r@?8C6DD E9:D >@?E9 23@FE 2 A@E6?E:2==J Q42E2DEC@A9:4Q 5C@A 😕 4@==686 6?C@==>6?ED E92E H@F=5 >2<6 E96 564C62D6D @7 E96 A2?56>:4 D66> >:=5]k^Am
kAmu@C q:;@FI[ @7 }@CH:49[ r@??64E:4FE[ E96 upu$p AC@3=6>D E9C62E6? E@ F?56C>:?6 E96 AC@>:D6 @7 9:896C 65F42E:@?]k^Am
kAm%@ 96C[ 4@==686 😀 2 492?46 E@ D6:K6 E96 @AA@CEF?:E:6D E92E H6C6?VE 2G2:=23=6 E@ 96C >@E96C[ H9@ :>>:8C2E65 7C@> w2:E: E@ E96 &]$] 2D 2? 25F=E] q:;@FI 9@A6D E@ 364@>6 2 E96C2A:DE 2?5 D6E 2 A@D:E:G6 6I2>A=6 7@C 96C E9C66 J@F?86C 3C@E96CD]k^Am
kAmx7 96C upu$p 8@6D E9C@F89[ D96 D9@F=5 36 6=:8:3=6 7@C 6?@F89 7:?2?4:2= 2:5 E@ 96=A H:E9 E96 S `b[___2J62C EF:E:@? 2E $@FE96C? r@??64E:4FE $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ] x7 ?@E[ D96 >:89E 8@ E@ 2 =@42= 4@>>F?:EJ 4@==686[ 3FE 6G6? E92E H@F=5 C6BF:C6 =@2?D :7 D96 42?VE 4@>A=6E6 E96 upu$p]k^Am
kAmQ%92EVD H9J :E 9FCED[ 3642FD6 :EVD =:<6 J@F H@C< D@ 92C5 E@ 8@ D@>6H96C6 2?5 5@ D@>6E9:?8 2?5 >2<6 D@>6E9:?8 @7 J@FCD6=7[Q q:;@FI D2:5] Qx E9@F89E x H@F=5 DE2CE 2E 2 7@FCJ62C W4@==686X 2?5 E96? H@C< 92C5 4@?E:?F@FD=J[ =:<6 xVG6 366? 5@:?8 32D:42==J >J H9@=6 =:76] qFE E92EVD ?@E E96 42D6]Qk^Am
kAm%96 FA52E65 upu$p 7@C> 92D @?6 D64E:@? 7:==65 @FE 3J DEF56?ED 2?5 2?@E96C 3J E96:C A2C6?ED] qFE H96? q:;@FI 7:?:D96D 96C A2CE[ ?@E9:?8 D9@HD FA @? 96C >@>VD @?=:?6 244@F?E] $96 <66AD ECJ:?8[ 3FE ?@E9:?8 D66>D E@ 492?86]k^Am
kAm$:>:=2C AC@3=6>D 92G6 366? C6A@CE65 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ[ 2=@?8 H:E9 ?F>6C@FD @E96C 3F8D E92E E96 t5F42E:@? s6A2CE>6?E 92D D4C2>3=65 E@ 7:I] u2>:=:6D H9@ 42== 7@C 4FDE@>6C D6CG:46 92G6 72465 =@?8 H2:E E:>6D @C D2J E96 42== 46?E6C 9F?8 FA @? E96>]k^Am
kAmxE Q5C2:?D 2== E96 >@>6?EF>Q 7C@> 72>:=:6D H@C<:?8 E@ D6?5 E96:C 49:=5C6? E@ 4@==686[ 6DA64:2==J E9@D6 ?2G:82E:?8 E96 AC@46DD 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6[ D2:5 p??6 +:??[ 2 4@F?D6=@C 2E }@CH:49 uC66 p4256>J[ H96C6 q:;@FI 8@6D E@ D49@@=]k^Am
kAmQx 42? @?=J D2J D@ >2?J E:>6D[ VyFDE 36 A2E:6?E[ ;FDE 36 A2E:6?E[V 367@C6 E96J E9C@H E96:C 92?5D FA 2?5 E96JVC6 =:<6[ V(9J 2> x 5@:?8 E9:Dn xV> ;FDE 8@??2 8@ 86E 2 ;@3[VQ D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 C@==@FE 92D 2EEC24E65 3:A2CE:D2? 4C:E:4:D> 😕 r@?8C6DD[ 2?5 :EVD 36:?8 :?G6DE:82E65 2E E96 C6BF6DE @7 #6AF3=:42?D] {2DE H66<[ #:492C5 r@C5C2J[ E96 7656C2= DEF56?E =@2? 49:67 H9@ @G6CD2H E96 upu$p FA52E6[ 2??@F?465 96VD DE6AA:?8 5@H? 2E E96 6?5 @7 yF?6]k^Am
kAmu@C 4@==686D[ E@@[ E96 56=2JD A@D6 2 >2;@C E9C62E]k^Am
kAmt?C@==>6?E 564C62D6D =:<6 E9@D6 36:?8 AC@;64E65 ?@H 4@F=5 AFE >2?J D>2== 4@==686D @FE @7 3FD:?6DD[ @C ?646DD:E2E6 566A 4FED 😕 DE277] $@>6 4@==686D 2C6 AFD9:?8 7@C 6>6C86?4J C6=:67 ;FDE E@ DE2J 27=@2E[ D2:5 p?86= !éC6K[ rt~ @7 E96 }2E:@?2= pDD@4:2E:@? 7@C r@==686 p5>:DD:@? r@F?D6=:?8]k^Am
kAmQx7 E96J 5@?VE 86E 4964 E96 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E E@ 32D:42==J 86E E96> E9C@F89 ?6IE J62C[ E96J H:== ?@E DFCG:G6[Q !éC6K D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 upu$p 92D 366? E96 =:?49A:? @7 DEF56?E 7:?2?4:2= 2:5 7@C 564256D] xEVD FD65 E@ 56E6C>:?6 6=:8:3:=:EJ 7@C E96 7656C2= !6== 8C2?E[ 2 D49@=2CD9:A 7@C =@H:?4@>6 DEF56?ED[ 2?5 :EVD C6BF:C65 E@ C646:G6 7656C2= DEF56?E =@2?D] r@==686D 2?5 DE2E6D 2=D@ FD6 upu$p E@ 5:DEC:3FE6 E96:C @H? D49@=2CD9:AD]k^Am
kAmupu$p 925 =@?8 366? >2=:8?65 7@C 36:?8 E65:@FD[ 5:77:4F=E 2?5 :?E:>:52E:?8 E@ 72>:=:6D H:E9@FE 4@==686 6IA6C:6?46] r@?8C6DD A2DD65 =68:D=2E:@? 😕 a_a_ >62?E E@ D:>A=:7J E96 7@C>] %96 t5F42E:@? s6A2CE>6?E H2D @C56C65 E@ C65F46 E96 ?F>36C @7 BF6DE:@?D 7C@> >@C6 E92? `__ E@ 23@FE c_[ 2?5 492?86 E96 7@C>F=2 E@ 6IA2?5 2:5 E@ >@C6 DEF56?ED]k^Am
kAm!C@3=6>D DE2CE65 A:=:?8 FA 2D D@@? 2D E96 ?6H 7@C> H6?E @?=:?6 😕 s646>36C[ 2=C625J >@?E9D @G6C5F6]k^Am
kAm%96 7:CDE 2AA=:42E:@?D H6C6 :?4@CC64E=J AC@46DD65 FD:?8 2? @FE52E65 42=4F=2E:@? 7@C :?7=2E:@?] {2E6C[ 2 7656C2= 4@?EC24E@C >:D42=4F=2E65 2 5:776C6?E 7@C>F=2 @? >@C6 E92? a__[___ 2AA=:42E:@?D] t249 >:DE2<6 25565 E@ 56=2JD[ =62G:?8 DEF56?ED H2:E:?8 =@?86C E@ 962C 2?JE9:?8 23@FE 7:?2?4:2= 2:5]k^Am
kAmtG6? >@C6 H@CC:D@>6 😀 2 >:DDE6A E92E 3=@4<65 DEF56?ED 7C@> 7:?:D9:?8 E96 7@C> :7 E96J 92G6 2 A2C6?E H:E9@FE 2 $@4:2= $64FC:EJ ?F>36C] p5G@42E6D D2J E96 DJDE6> =@4<65 @FE 9F?5C65D @7 E9@FD2?5D @7 DEF56?ED H9@ 2C6 &]$] 4:E:K6?D @C A6C>2?6?E C6D:56?ED 3FE H9@D6 A2C6?ED 2C6 ?@E]k^Am
kAm%96 t5F42E:@? s6A2CE>6?E @? %F6D52J D2:5 :EVD 8:G:?8 E9@D6 A2C6?ED 2 ?6H H2J E@ 6?E6C E96:C E2I :?7@C>2E:@? >2?F2==J] qFE 2D C646?E=J 2D E9:D H66<[ D@>6 DEF56?ED D2:5 E96J H6C6 DE:== 3=@4<65 7C@> DF3>:EE:?8 E96 7@C>]k^Am
kAmu656C2= 65F42E:@? @77:4:2=D D2J E96JVC6 255C6DD:?8 =:?86C:?8 3F8D 3FE >2<:?8 AC@8C6DD] |@C6 E92? g >:==:@? DEF56?E 2AA=:42E:@?D 92G6 ?@H 366? AC@46DD65 2?5 D6?E E@ 4@==686D[ E96 286?4J D2:5[ 2?5 ?6H 2AA=:42E:@?D 2C6 36:?8 AC@46DD65 H:E9:? E9C66 52JD]k^Am
kAm$E:==[ E96 H2:E 😀 72C 7C@> @G6C] xE FDF2==J E2<6D H666 4@==686D 92G6 6IE6?565 564:D:@? 5625=:?6D E@ 8:G6 DEF56?ED >@C6 E:>6 E@ H6:89 E96:C @AE:@?D] qFE D@>6 DEF4< E@ |2J `[ 7@C4:?8 DEF56?ED E@ 49@@D6 2 4@==686 — 2?5 >2<6 2 ?@?C67F?523=6 A2J>6?E E@ 9@=5 E96:C DA@E — H:E9@FE
kAmx? (6DE ‘:C8:?:2[ v@G] y:> yFDE:46 @? %F6D52J 564=2C65 2 DE2E6 @7 6>6C86?4J E92E 2==@HD DEF56?ED E@ C646:G6 DE2E6 D49@=2CD9:AD H:E9@FE 92G:?8 E96:C upu$p AC@46DD65 3J E96 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E] (6DE ‘:C8:?:2 92D E96 =@H6DE ?F>36C @7 4@==686 8C25F2E6D 😕 E96 ?2E:@?[ 2?5 E96 DE2E6VD 9:89 D49@@= upu$p 4@>A=6E:@? C2E6D 2C6 4FCC6?E=J 5@H? ?62C=J c_T[ D2:5 yFDE:46[ 2 #6AF3=:42?]k^Am
kAmQ#62==J 2?5 ECF=J[ 2 =@E @7 <:5D 2C6 D:EE:?8 @? E96 D:56=:?6D ]]] H@?56C:?8[ Vp> x 8@:?8 E@ 36 23=6 E@ 8@ E@ 4@==686nV Q 96 D2:5 5FC:?8 2 ?6HD 3C:67:?8]k^Am
kAmx? q2=E:>@C6[ r2>CJ? r2CE6C 😀 H2:E:?8 E@ 7:?5 @FE :7 96V== 86E 2 7F== C:56 E@ E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 |2CJ=2?5 @C 7246 E6?D @7 E9@FD2?5D @7 5@==2CD 😕 DEF56?E =@2?D]k^Am
kAmp E@A DEF56?E 2?5 42AE2:? @7 9:D 32D632== 2?5 HC6DE=:?8 E62>D[ r2CE6C D66D 4@==686 2D 2 DE6A FA 😕 =:76] w6 E9:?6D 😕 E96 8C@46CJ DE@C6 =:?6 H96? 96 925 E@ AFE :E6>D 324< @? E96 D96=7 3642FD6 9:D >@> 4@F=5?VE 277@C5 E96 3:==] p 4@==686 568C66 H@F=5 8:G6 9:> E96 DE23:=:EJ 96 5:5?VE 2=H2JD 92G6[ E96 `gJ62C@=5 D2:5]k^Am
kAmqFE H96? 96 =@@:52E:?8] p=@?8 H:E9 |2CJ=2?5[ 96VD 2=D@ 4@?D:56C:?8 |4s2?:6= r@==686[ 2 AC:G2E6 D49@@= 😕 |2CJ=2?5] x7 96 6?C@==D E96C6[ 96 6IA64ED E@ 3@CC@H 2=>@DE Sb_[___ 2 J62C]k^Am
kAmQx ECJ E@ >2<6 E96 36DE 564:D:@?D ?@H D@ x 42? 92G6 2 8@@5 7FEFC6[Q 96 D2:5] QxV> 2 =:EE=6 ?6CG@FD E92E E9:?8D H@?VE H@C< @FE] qFE xV> 72:E97F=]Qk^Am
Tags
- Politics
- University
- The Economy
- Education
- Finance
- Government Departments And Ministries
- School Systems
- Job Market
- Trade
- Medicine
- Telephony
- Sports
Recommended for you
Previous article
Next article
