While most high school seniors have already begun the process to decide which college they will attend, a Sunday event at Allen County Community College will go a long way to help many determine how much financial aid they may receive.
College Goal Sunday will take place at 23 colleges across the state, including ACCC, to assist students and their parents as they complete the required Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms.
The event, from 2 to 4 p.m., is free and open to all high school students who wish to attend college but do not know how they will finance their studies. Each student who attends will be eligible to win a $500 scholarship. Four will be awarded Sunday at each of the 23 colleges.
A student’s FAFSA results determine how much federal assistance the student will receive through Pell grants — money that does not have to be paid back — the Federal Work-Study Program or student loans.
Ideally, students have already begun the FAFSA process by registering online for a personal identification number, said Vicki Curry, financial aid director at ACCC. Students can apply for the PIN on Sunday, but doing so then may delay the FAFSA application by up to three days.
“Sometimes they can go ahead and fill out the rest of the information at the same time, but we never know for certain,” Curry said. “It’s best to get the PIN now.”
Students can apply for their PIN online at www.fafsa.gov.
A FAMILY’S income helps determine how much federal assistance a student should receive to attend college.
Thus, those who show up at College Goal Sunday should either bring their family’s 2010 income tax returns, or if those returns have not yet been completed, by bringing in all necessary W-2 forms.
“We can get a pretty close estimate using the W-2s,” Curry said. “And that information can always be adjusted later, after the tax returns are filed.”
Curry stressed that students looking at any college, not just ACCC, are invited to attend.
College officials from Baker University, Fort Scott Community College and Neosho County Community College will be on hand to assist.
“We’re very fortunate to be chosen as a host once again,” Curry said.
The Allen County site is one of only two in southeast Kansas; the other is in Pittsburg.
Students can sign up for a College Goal Sunday cell phone reminder by texting “CGS” to 25827.
