Financial aid forms cause difficulties

As everyone is aware of, March 1 is the deadline for filing the FAFSA. This year I did not receive a renewal FAFSA. I called the Financial Aid Office and they told me that I was too late! Since I was late, I would lose all of my chances for scholarships and grants that I had previously received. They said that I could submit a letter explaining my reason for not submitting my FAFSA on time and they will make an exception if the reason is good enough.

I am a full-time senior in electrical engineering at Purdue. I’m married, I’m a father of four children — 10, 6, 5 and 3 — I coach my daughter's soccer and basketball teams, I play in two basketball leagues, and on top of all that, I work 40 hours a week as a systems administrator. Now I ask the question: If this was your daily life, couldn’t you forget something like filing your FAFSA?

After I was rejected, I went in to the Financial Aid Office and the lady at the desk told me that I was irresponsible since I was a senior. After speaking with the counselor, I was told that if I or a family member had a traumatic experience within the last year, that the Financial Aid Committee would more than likely approve my decision to extend the deadline. To me, something seems a little crooked in the Financial Aid Office. They were telling me to make up a story and lie with some kind of proof so that I could go ahead and get my grants and scholarships that I have worked for! I’m sorry, but I would rather have my dignity than to use someone else’s misfortune as a ladder!

Mike Daugherty

Senior, Schools of Engineering

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