By: Evan Carlson

It’s that time of year when FAFSA, better known as Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is officially out for students and parents. However, due to technicalities and user delays, Mt. Hebron students have felt stressed and anxious recently when applying. There have been many technical issues within the last week, with soft launches only available for a few minutes per user.

Without being able to apply for the new school year’s aid, students who qualify for it won’t be able to receive scholarships, grants, or financial aid that covers it. The assistance covers food, housing, supplies, transportation and tuition fees. These are all things students who qualify for the program will benefit heavily from.

“I think it’s good for students who can apply for it because it not only covers college aid but also other necessities students may need,” stated Mt. Hebron freshman Noah Shepply.

As many families are still struggling to get into the FAFSA portal, students are working against the clock to secure a place within the system. Even with improved rollouts, students still need help signing up on the website.

The errors have led to the potential amount of aid received becoming considerably lower for students. The lower the financial aid, the harder it is for these students to get a better education with the program’s help.

“I think it because those in financial need situations it’s good to have the extra money it can make a difference between them getting into their top college or not,” stated Mt. Hebron senior Davey Walles.

Students all over the United States can apply for FAFSA if they meet the prerequisites; students within Howard County may apply for the program to help them with getting into college; it is not just for students who are below the poverty line; rather, anyone who may not be able to receive a college education without it. Even with a scholarship, college is expensive.

“No, I don’t really know anyone who’s applied for it here,” stated Shepply.

There have been pushes to make it easier for students to get onto the website, even though it is still a problem for families and students. Reports have been made that it’s still been a rocky start to roll out FAFSA despite the site being open for over a week.