I used to think the financial aid process was ridiculous, because people who needed financial aid did not get any, and some people got thousands of dollars back after tuition. I changed my opinion after I visited the Financial Aid Office and learned how the process really works. After that experience I realize the process makes sense.

College is expensive. That is a fact with which most college students have learned to cope. The ideal situation is that parents and students will be able to pay for tuition, but if a student and his or her family cannot, they always have the option of applying for financial aid. However, not everybody who applies for financial aid qualifies for grants, loans or work study, and many people find that disappointing.

If a student does not qualify for financial aid it may seem like the end of the world and life may have become more difficult, but the staff in the financial aid office does everything in their power to help students. Students may be upset or angry if they do not qualify for financial aid, but it is not the fault of those who work in the Financial Aid Office.

“Our job is to help students get through school,” Director of Financial Aid, Liz Tucker, said. “If we can’t do something, it is federal regulations that are stopping us.”

The formula that calculates how much financial aid a student is eligible to receive is determined by Congress. The first step in the financial aid process is to fill out the Free Application For Student Aid. The FAFSA focuses on different classifications such as marital status, age, military experience and whether a student is dependent or independent. Students are deemed dependent if their parents provide more than half of their financial support.

A large portion of students have applied for financial aid, but they may be unaware of what happens after they fill out the FAFSA. After the FAFSA is completed it is sent to a government processing center where the student’s family contribution figure is calculated. The family contribution figure is determined by the parents’ income from the previous year, the student’s income and the size of their family.

After the family contribution figure is calculated, the form comes back to UW-Platteville where the cost of attendance is determined. The cost of attendance is based on tuition, fees, room and board, personal expenses and a transportation allowance. The cost of attendance varies depending on whether the student lives on campus, off campus or commutes. If a student lives on campus, the cost of attendance will differ from a student who lives off campus, because room and board will be added on to tuition. The cost of attendance for a student who lives off campus for the 2009-2010 academic year is $16,170 in Wisconsin.

After watching a friend fill out the FAFSA and yell at his computer screen, I realize it may be an intimidating and time consuming process, but it is well worth it. According to Tucker, approximately 74 percent of students at UW-P receive financial aid in some form, whether it be a grant, a loan or work study.
Next time you fill out the FAFSA, remember that despite frustrations or disappointments, the staff in the Financial Aid Office wants to help you get through college and will do anything in their power to make paying tuition less of a burden for students.