Figuring out how to plan and pay for college can be a huge headache – especially when it comes to filling out paperwork like the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). FAFSA is one of the most commonly utilized forms of student aid, and for many people, it’s a bit of a headache.

But it’s one Adam Russell, Market Leader, and Alisha Coratti, Banking Center Manager (NMLS: 1289644), are intimately familiar with.

For the past few years, Adam and Alisha have both been pursuing graduate-level degrees at Indiana Wesleyan University.

While Adam wraps up his degree in November 2022, he said that when he first decided to go back to school, it seemed like an almost impossible dream.

“It was a big endeavor to go back to school,” he shared. “It was even more pressure to think about how I would be able to pay for it on top of every other thing that I was responsible for at the same time.”

So, Adam decided to apply for financial aid – and one of the most accessible forms of aid comes in the form of FAFSA. But this program’s pile of forms and red tape makes it a daunting experience – even for someone who already had one degree under his belt.

“I was a little worried that I was not going to be able to complete my FAFSA completely because I’d lost some tax paperwork and was returning to school as an adult,” he shared.

As it turns out, he needn’t have worried.

“Fortunately, the process is actually very easy to follow,” he said. “The site made it very easy to input my information as well as gather all of the pertinent information by linking sites to pull information from my tax returns.”

Alisha agreed that FAFSA has a little more bark than bite – especially if you’re returning to school as an adult and can use your own tax information. Knowing which school she would attend in advance also helped streamline the process.

“I had already had a school picked when I went to do my FAFSA forms, which means I had the school code and everything that I did went directly to them,” she shared. “The rest of the process was extremely easy, as it automatically pulled information from my tax returns. Then, it was just a matter of waiting a few days to become qualified and they sent my qualification directly to the university. I was so scared when I went into it because government forms can always be a bit intimidating, but it turned out to be a lot simpler than I thought.”

However, both Alisha and Adam acknowledge that FAFSA forms can still be intimidating – especially if you are a young person going to college for the first time or are filling out the form on your own. Luckily, Adam said, there are things you can do to prepare ahead of time.

“I would advise anyone filling out FAFSA to gather as much information as they can ahead of time,” he said. “If you can gather information about your family, do so! And keep track of your tax forms and information and have that handy. This way you won’t be scrambling trying to collect these pieces while you’re filling out the FAFSA itself – it will all be right there when you’re ready to begin.”

While FAFSA is a wonderful tool that can put a big dent in the cost of college, Adam said it’s important for future students to apply for other forms of aid, as well.

“The best advice I can give is to open yourself up and get any and all forms of assistance you can,” he said. “Fill out the FAFSA early, apply for a ton of grants and scholarships. Once everything comes back, you can work with a financial advisor or your school to determine which forms of assistance to accept. But it’s best to start with a large pool of options and then pare it down.

However, Adam encourages potential students to not be intimidated by the thought of filling out FAFSA, going back to school, or paying for college.

“If you are someone you know is kicking around the idea of going to or back to school, do it,” he shared. “It took me many years to have the courage to finally go back, but it’s been one of the most rewarding experiences I have had – both personally and professionally. It is a commitment, especially being a father, spouse, and full-time professional; but, by investing in myself, I am setting up not only myself, but also those who count on me, to benefit much more in the long run.”

And while you’re studying hard, Adam said he wanted to remind students that it’s important to take breaks, as well.

“School is very important, but so are other areas of your life,” he explained. “It has been vital to my success that I allow time away from school to spend with my family and to recharge my batteries. That rest period ensures I remain focused and motivated to complete the tasks at hand – and it means I’m not over-extending myself trying to juggle too many things at once. So remember to take time for yourself, to spend time with family and friends, and, most importantly, to have fun – whether you find that fun inside the classroom or outside of it.”