I only had a handful of students who were selected for verification (maybe
a third?). The only $0 EFC students who were selected were those who
submitted the FAFSA prior to filing taxes based on estimates, along with
the students whose parents have no income from work. Our students whose
parents file taxes on the earlier side have been waiting and submitting the
FAFSA after, and that seems to be helping to reduce the number of
verifications.
I did get a little bit tripped up with one student who had initially
skipped all the parent asset and student income questions, so there was no
option for her to complete the IRS Data Retrieval. It took us a while to
figure out that she had to change the answer to that question in order to
see the option for the data retrieval for the student.
The verification process is such a hassle. One of my students was so
overwhelmed by all the additional paperwork that she didn't follow through
with it for all of her schools (despite my advice saying to do the
opposite!). She basically decided to just go with her top choice and never
even saw financial aid packages from the rest of her schools.
Alyssa West
TRIO Upward Bound
University of Southern Maine
37 College Avenue
Gorham, Maine 04038
Phone: 207-780-5537
1-800-800-4876 ext. 5537
Fax: 207-228-8259
www.usm.maine.edu/upwardbound
On Wed, Apr 6, 2016 at 7:58 PM, Mila Tappan <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Thank you, Kelly!
>
>
> Mila Tappan
> College Access and Outreach Manager
> FINANCE AUTHORITYOF MAINE
> P.O. Box 949, 5 Community Drive, Augusta, ME 04332-0949
> 207-620-3504 or 1-800-228-3734
> Fax: 207-213-2604 – TTY: 207-626-2717
> [log in to unmask]
>
> Helping Maine people achieve their business and education goals since 1983
> Best Places to Work in Maine - 2015
>
>
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: - MEEOA-L - Maine Educational Opportunity Association members
> communication [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kelly Ilseman
> Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2016 1:26 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: {Disarmed} Re: Financial Aid Verification Question
>
> Mila,
>
> I can only speak for my students, but almost all of my seniors have been
> selected for verification this year, a pattern consistent with previous
> years. It is quite often a burdensome additional step. So yes, I do believe
> that it causes undo confusion, and is an additional hurdle for students who
> often exhibit the greatest financial need.
>
> Kelly
>
> --------------------
> Kelly Ann Ilseman
> Upward Bound Math/Science Program
> Assistant Director/Academic Curriculum Coordinator/Academic Counselor
> Maine Educational Opportunity Association Past-President/State Liaison
>
> Best ways to reach me:
> call or text: 617.784.2320
> kelly.ilseman@m <[log in to unmask]>*aine.edu <http://aine.edu>*
>
> other ways to reach me:
> main office: 800.581.2522
> office: 207.581.3720
> fax: 207.581.2710
>
> snail mail:
> University of Maine
> Upward Bound Math/Science Program
> 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Rm 224
> Orono, ME 04469-5713
>
> http://umaine.edu/ub/
>
>
> *Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.
>
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