R J Baumel

RJ Baumel

Author RJ Baumel is a Financial Aid Officer whose career counseling undergraduates, graduates and their families on the eligibility, availability and deadlines related to obtaining financial aid for higher education has spanned the last 3 decades. His tenure has included working for both public and private four year institutions, as well as two year community colleges. Baumel has authored a number of user guides and related materials, and is the recipient of a variety of professional citations for public speaking. In addition he served on the New Jersey Financial Aid Association Executive Council from 1986 to 1988.

Baumel’s presentations to students, parent groups and other organizations focus specifically on how to fill out the FASFA application easily, accurately and on time. His tips and tools have successfully helped many thousands of families over the years receive enough aid to effectively manage college costs. Now, with the publication of Fast Tracking the FAFSA, Baumel has condensed this information into a book – so that everyone will have access to the same step by step, fail-proof information to complete the FAFSA quickly and effortlessly.

In our democracy every young person should have an equal opportunity to obtain a higher education, regardless of (their) station in life or financial means. President John F. Kennedy, February 6, 1962

While the promise of a college degree was not written into our nation’s Bill of Rights, I believe, as President Kennedy did, that every person in the United States who is qualified to attend college should not be prevented from realizing their goal because of financial barriers.

Right now, it is estimated that seven to eight million students currently enrolled in college are eligible for financial aid, but don’t apply. There are undoubtedly millions more who may qualify -- but give up because they have heard horror stories about how difficult and confusing it is to complete the FAFSA application. In my view, this is based on what I call “Fear of FAFSA”. Although FAFSA ("Free Application for Federal Student Aid") has seen much improvement over the years, thanks to the internet and new technologies designed to simplify the application process, “Fear of FAFSA” persists.

Ultimately, this is why I wrote Fast Tracking the FAFSA. Consider it to be like having a financial aid advisor at your side providing all the necessary information, tips and tools to complete the application accurately and submit it on time.

Fast Tracking the FAFSA really does take the fear out of the FAFSA!