The College Scholarship Service of the College Board, which this month distributed 15 million financial-aid forms to 40,000 high schools, colleges, and agencies, last week urged parents and students to fill out the application forms as quickly as possible.
The printing of student-aid forms was delayed more than two months because the federal government was late in issuing guidelines for the Pell Grant and National Direct Student Loan programs.
“We’re afraid that because the forms were not there, people will think the money’s not there,” said Dan Hall, dean of admissions and financial aid at the University of Chicago and an official of the College Scholarship Service.
Mr. Hall said that more than $15 billion in public and private aid is available to help students attending college next September. About 50 percent of all students attending college receive financial aid, he said.
The news about proposed reductions in federal student aid has frightened many families, said George Hanford, president of The College Board, and the delayed distribution of forms has only added to their fears.
Officials of the organization added that every application completed is a strong “message to Congress” that Americans still demand full funding for student-aid programs.
The first round of budget negotiations for the fiscal year 1984 will begin in February after the President presents his budget proposals to the Congress.--sr
