Haven't completed your FAFSA application? Here's why you should

With just two weeks until the April 15 submission deadline, only 40 percent of Hoosier students have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

The application can be intimidating for students and parents.

Tonight -- if youre a high school senior... teachers want you to make sure you are filling out the proper paperwork.indiana ranks 31st in the country in fafsa completion.

Theres only two weeks until the april 15th submission deadline...and only 40 percent of hoosier students have completed the free application for federal student aid.fox 55's nico pennisi is live at carroll high school.nico, what are some reasons why students have been putting it off?

Chris, the fafsa application can be intimidating for students and parents.

It's lengthy.

It's detail oriented.

Tracking down specific financial information can be annoying.educators argue it's worth the hassle though... take pkg: the fafsa deadline is fast approaching."for some families who are super busy, have a lot going on, it becomes one more task to complete."northwest allen county schools spokeswoman lizette downey says the district can encourage students to complete the form, but ultimately..."at the end of the day, it ends up falling in the lap of the students and their families to complete and submit."and when they don't... "you often borrow more."bill wozniak with invested..

A state created non profit organization that helps students fill out these forms..

Says its a grave mistake.

"they end up taking loans.

And so it's one of those things that's super important but at the same time you don't feel it right away, you feel it down the road."

Across the country and here in indiana, fafsa completion is lagging ten percent from where it was a year ago.wozniak says the pandemic is to blame."the pandemic has separated students from the schools.

They've separated students from the counselors that often help them with all these initiatives that help the fafsa get filed."some roadblocks include... "they don't have any 3 expectation that they will qualify to receive anything so they're just like 'it's not energy,'"wozniak argues its worth filling regardless of if you continue your education or not.

"if you file and you don't end up going to college or doing anything after high school, there's no cost, there's no harm, there's no downside."

Individual colleges may have specific deadlines.

Invested deadlines.

Have specific colleges may individual no downside."harm, there's no downside."

Individual colleges may have specific deadlines.

Invested recommends checking with your college as to when they want the form