December 2004
GEN-04-13
Summary: This letter informs schools that additional copies of the 2004-2005 FAFSA will become available in December; and requests assistance in reducing the use of paper FAFSAs as electronic filing increases.
Dear Partner:
As you all know, the number of FAFSAs filed electronically has increased dramatically each year. In 2003-04, 73% of total applications were filed electronically, and that percentage has increased to 80% in 2004-05. Because of the huge number of Web filers, we anticipated large decreases in paper FAFSA orders from schools, and printed quantities accordingly. However, the demand has exceeded our expectations.
For the last complete FAFSA cycle, 2003-04, we printed and distributed approximately 27,000,000 paper FAFSAs. However, the number of paper original FAFSAs that were submitted for processing was only 2,263,709 about an 8% return rate.
Our print order for the 2004-2005 year was 24,485,000--and we have virtually run out. To carry us through the end of the 2004-05 application period, we are printing an additional 1,000,000 paper FAFSAs. To make this quantity last, we are asking your assistance to have these paper FAFSAs available for those applicants who cannot apply electronically. The new supply of paper FAFSAs will be available for distribution after December 21. If you have an immediate need for paper FAFSAs, please contact other schools in your area to see if they have extra FAFSAs that they can share.
We encourage you to have your electronic filers use the Pre-application Worksheet that is available on the FAFSA on the Web site and on IFAP at www.ifap.ed.gov. Rather than using the paper FAFSA, Web filers can use this specially designed worksheet to complete the online FAFSA. Keep in mind that this worksheet, as well as the PDF FAFSA posted on IFAP, should not be mailed in, as they cannot be scanned or processed by the Central Processing System.
As FAFSA on the Web applications continue to increase, our goal is to reduce the number of paper FAFSAs printed and distributed in coming years. Each fall we have asked schools to consider reducing their FAFSA orders on BPOS. Many of you have done so, and we once again ask for your help in this effort. We are also interested to hear your ideas as to why schools continue to order such large quantities of the paper FAFSAs and your ideas for reducing the need.
Please submit your thoughts and suggestions to Ask.AidAwareness@ed.gov
Sincerely
Jennifer Douglas
General Manager
Students Channel
Posted December 2, 2004
on www.NASFAA.org, the Web Site of the
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
(NASFAA).
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