The Better FAFSA was meant to simplify financial aid, but instead, it created new obstacles for students nationwide. Delays, confusion, and technical issues are leaving many of our Peer Leaders—who are already navigating the complexities of higher education—without the resources they desperately need. YOU can help them by supporting our efforts. At PeerForward, it is our job to provide these students with guidance as they navigate these troubling times. John Paul, a 2023-2024 Peer Leader, is proof that PeerForward makes a difference! We talked with John Paul about the impact that FAFSA delays had on his college application and decision process.
John Paul is currently attending the University of Mount Saint Vincent in New York City, but the road to get there was tough. Many of the schools he applied to, University of Mount Saint Vincent included, had tuition that was far too high for he and his family to pay. He knew that he would need to rely on financial aid when it was time to choose a college, so the FAFSA delays made this process difficult.
“The biggest challenge I had to overcome was the FAFSA application delays, which greatly impacted my decision to some of the institutions I applied to. PeerForward helped me to overcome this obstacle. Knowing that I was set with my financial aid applications gave me more confidence to be a Peer Leader for my peers,” shared John Paul.
Luckily, he came across a full-tuition scholarship offered by University of Mount Saint Vincent specifically for high achieving students of Filipino descent. He applied and was chosen as a recipient, securing his ability to pay for his education at University of Mount Saint Vincent!
After such a stressful application process, one may expect that John Paul would still be concerned about facing challenges in the next stage in his education journey. However, that is not his experience. He proudly shared the following with our team: “Thankfully, I am grateful to say that I have no underlying challenges that are causing me stress during my upcoming Fall semester, and I am confident to say that I have PeerForward to thank for this. The PeerForward program gave me the confidence and proper mindset to make the most of my college career including achieving academic success, developing connections for the benefit of future careers, and making the best out of my college experience. Therefore, I would like to thank the PeerForward program for setting me closer towards my aspirations.”
John Paul is one of thousands of students who received targeted financial aid guidance from PeerForward, successfully navigated the challenges, and helped his peers do the same in 2023. Now, he is thriving.
