Financial Aid Office hosted a beta testing event for the 2025-26 FAFSA application allowing students to complete their forms early.
By Atticus Tacopino
CSI’s Financial aid office gave students the chance to submit their forms ahead of schedule, which provided personalized advice to simplify the application process. Permitted by the U.S. Department of Education, this opportunity aimed to avoid some of the issues that they faced from last year’s FAFSA process, which led many students to become frustrated with the submission process.
“As a student-athlete living in the dorms, it’s hard to keep up with everything,” said Madison Hagget, participant. “The FAFSA process has been difficult in the past, but this event made it super easy, and it pushed me to get it done ahead of time”
Over 100 students participated and received personalized advice from financial aid advisors and experts from CUNY Central and the U.S. Department of Education. The event also served to help improve FASFA’s new application system which ensures an easier filing process for the upcoming year.
Preparation for the event included reaching out to over 1,000 students, with participants required to verify their account information through studentaid.gov before registering. Once confirmed, they could sign up for their designated time slots. Setup began at 9 AM, and as students arrived for their appointments, many were ready to get started quickly, having already logged in with their FSA IDs.
Taking place in the 1L Computer Lab, their participants consisted of first-year undergraduates and reached all the way up to graduate students, all seeking help with their financial aid forms. Financial aid advisors were stationed in different sections of the lab, offering one-on-one support. Students engaged in conversations, asking questions and enjoying free snacks and beverages provided by the department.
Representatives from CUNY Central and the The Department of Education were also available and observed the event to identify any similar issues within this new application process.
Their presence emphasized their efforts to support students and refine the FAFSA experience. Their goal was not only to assist students but also to ensure that those responsible for improving the system could see first-hand the challenges applicants have faced. DOE Representatives highlighted that this update was designed to better assist the different needs of students.
These improvements are part of an ongoing effort to ensure that students, regardless of their background or unique circumstances, can complete their financial aid applications successfully.
Terri Sangiorgio, Director of Financial Aid at CSI, emphasized the importance of these new proceedings, while the form may seem simple, it can be overwhelming without proper instruction. As its December release approaches, CSI Financial Aid Office provides ongoing support, ensuring that no student is left behind in navigating this often complicated financial aid process.
“Our office is dedicated to guiding students through the new application process every step of the way,” said Sangiorgio. “This event is just one of many ways we’re stepping up to support them. In fact, we were the first to open a FAFSA Filing Lab in June, and CSI remains one of only two CUNY schools with a dedicated space for students to get that in-person assistance.”
