As featured in the Feb. 21 publication of The Wellesley News, students around the country encountered challenges with the launch of the updated Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). While the new FAFSA is intended to simplify the process in the long-term, the Wellesley News article expressed the concerns that some Wellesley students have regarding parts of the revision and how this will impact families, such as no longer considering siblings in college. 

At Wellesley, when a student applies for financial aid they will complete both the FAFSA and the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile. The FAFSA provides information on the distribution of federal aid and the CSS Profile focuses on the institutional aid awarded to the student (i.e. grant funding that students do not need to pay back). To determine a student’s financial aid eligibility, the CSS Profile also considers, among many other factors, the number of family members in college. In this particular case, although the number of siblings in college will not be assessed via the FAFSA, the Office of Student Financial Services (SFS) will continue to consider this as part of the CSS Profile. 

Wellesley wants students to be informed and reassured that SFS is working hard to prevent any disruption. We recognize the challenges our students and their families have experienced completing the FAFSA this year, and we encourage them to be in touch with questions about their financial aid application or financing their education. Students can stop by Schneider, email [email protected], or connect with their caseload manager for an appointment. 

Most sincerely,

Peaches Valdes

Dean of Admission and Financial Aid

and

Bonnie Quinn

Director of Student Financial Services