NIU’s financial aid office is hoping to erase some of the confusion regarding Illinois’ Free Application for Federal Student Aid, more commonly known as FAFSA.

“Filling out taxes is hard enough,” said Jason Manning, junior double major in communications and political science. “Trying to analyze them for student aid is maddening.”

The financial aid office encourages students who need help completing their FAFSA to stop in for advice.

“There are computers in the office that students and advisers can use together to correctly finish the application,” said Jane Jordan, assistant director of the Student Financial Aid Office.

Along with the trouble of finding financial aid comes an economic climate that has more students scrambling to complete their financial aid applications early.

As of March 31, the U.S. Department of Education estimated that 3,149 more students had completed a FAFSA at NIU than during the same time period in 2008. A sluggish economy and increased financial aid applications prompted the NIU financial aid office to send out a student e-mail urging them to complete their FAFSA by the end of April.

Shortly after May 1, the Illinois Student Aid Commission is expecting to suspend the State of Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) and the Incentive for Access grant (IIA).

“We would like as many students as possible from our university to be able to participate in the MAP,” Jordan said.

She strongly suggested that students, even those who have completed the FAFSA multiple times, carefully and thoroughly review their application.

“There are new dependency questions on the FAFSA,” Jordan said. “If the student answers the questions incorrectly, it could delay the processing of their financial aid.”

Jordan also stated students also commonly report incorrect parental income, which can adversely affect the amount of aid they are eligible to receive.

“When they ask for specific amounts, make sure that you report the totals on all lines,” Jordan said.

Students and parents who are worried about a significant decrease from their 2008 income are encouraged to request a re-evaluation from the financial aid office.