Picture this: You’re uncertain about returning to school next semester. You’ve been attempting to fill out the FAFSA application since December, but it’s asking for information you don’t have. Despite months of calling FAFSA’s information center, their hotline has remained unresponsive and dismissive. First-generation, low-income, and underrepresented students face this struggle every year.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid serves as the primary means for many families to access various scholarships, grants, and federal student loans. Notably, students without a permanent address and those with parents lacking social security numbers cannot successfully submit the form.This year, updates were made to accommodate students with parents who lack a social security number, however this resultedin severe glitches. Due to this technical error, students relying on government aid for higher education have navigated this bureaucratic maze alone. Attempts to seek support from the Dickinson financial aid office and the college’s president, however, have also left students feeling lost and unsupported. 

Students should be able to prioritize and focus on their studies and not worry about federal aid, yet first-gen, low-income, underrepresented students bear the repercussions of coding errors. If Dickinson prides itself on diversity and inclusion, it must strive to leave no student behind. While there are avenues to advocate and mobilize for a nationwide rectification, for now, we urge Dickinson to extend the standard date of deposits to accommodate students grappling with FAFSA’s complications.

One student describes the strenuous process endured for nearly five months, living in a single-parent household and filing with only one parent, saying, “I don’t know what this means for my future in higher education. Will I be able to finish college? Will I have to go back home if this isn’t resolved?” Their parent had to create a new FSA ID, confirming their identity over the phone. Since December, FAFSA has not responded adequately, with extensive wait times and calls, sometimes ending abruptly. They offer a tip for fellow struggling students, noting that calling around 5 pm has been helpful.

While the barriers to higher education are historically complex, with the circumstances students affected by FAFSA navigate, this presents an opportunity for Dickinson’s campus community to lead nationally in prioritizing marginalized students’ right to learn. Dickinson’s mission to prepare young people to engage as leaders in facing 21st-century challenges is particularly relevant here. The existing barriers underscore the stark differences in access to a liberal arts education based on identity and origin, highlighting the potential for collective action. 

While there is a direct appeal to the administration, there’s a clear need to acknowledge and address the inequities within our campus community. Marginalized students demonstrate resilience and strength facing adversity, enriching the knowledge Dickinson seeks to cultivate. An attack on even a few is ultimately an attack on all. Our lives are made better by the presence and power of a generation of students historically excluded from the academy. To all our readers, we ask: Will you advocate for us? With us?

We extend an invitation to all students struggling with the FAFSA application to this week’s event hosted by the Dickinson Gammas. The event will take place Tuesday from 5-7 pm at Landis House, where scholars will receive support in navigating the application process. The workaround previously mentioned has enabled many students to successfully submit the application despite their parents’ legal status. Please reach out with any questions or feedback. Contact [email protected] and [email protected].