CHARLESTON, W.Va. — It only takes an average of 23 minutes to fill out an important form that’s the key for a lot of West Virginians who have plans on heading to college.
Completing the FAFSA, Free Application for Federal Student Aid, will be one of the focuses Sunday at the fifth annual College Goal Sunday in West Virginia.
Free financial aid assistance will be offered at 25 workshop sites from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission College Access Program Liaison Autumn Perry said the workshops can help high school seniors and current college students looking to complete their forms for financial aid.
“It’s basically an opportunity for students and families to come out and get some free assistance in applying for financial aid,” she said.
The FAFSA is the key. It needs to be completed by high school seniors hoping to get a Promise Scholarship and anyone seeking federal financial aid.
HEPC Senior Director of Financial Aid Brian Weingart said it only takes on average 23 minutes to fill out the FAFSA. He said those attending Sunday’s workshops should bring some information to help them.
“They would want to bring 2013 completed federal tax returns. If they don’t they want to bring W-2s, the last paystubs or if their 2012 income is similar they can bring their 2012 returns,” he said.
Studies show West Virginians leave thousands of dollars of college financial aid on the table each year and in many cases it’s because the FAFSA was not completed.
“The FAFSA is the number one indicator of college going,” Weingart said. “If we can encourage students to get that FAFSA filled out it makes it affordable for students to be able to go because they are applying for all of these scholarships and grants.”
More information is available at www.cfwv.com.
The 25 College Goal Sunday locations:
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, Martinsburg
Computer Labs 2104, 2106 and 2108
Bluefield State College, Bluefield
W. Paul Cole Jr. School of Business
Concord University, Athens
Rahall Technology Center – Room 103
Davis & Elkins College, Elkins
Eshelman Science Center
Erma Byrd Higher Education Center, Beckley
Computer Lab
Fairmont State University and Pierpont Community and Technical College Caperton Center, Clarksburg
First Floor
Glenville State College, Glenville
Robert Kidd Library
Herbert Hoover High School, Clendenin
Library & Computer Lab 2001
Kanawha Valley Community and Technical College, South Charleston
Rooms 119 & 108
Lewis County High School, Weston
Room 1049
Marshall University, Huntington
Corbly Hall
Marshall University Mid-Ohio Valley Center, Point Pleasant
Student Lounge
Mingo Central High School, Delbarton
Library/Media Center, Room 125
New River Community and Technical College, Lewisburg
Greenbrier Hall – Student Lounge
Potomac State College of WVU, Keyser
Academy Hall – Room 309
Putnam County Career and Technical College, Eleanor
Room 6A
RESA 4 Offices, Summersville
Main Floor Office & Computer Lab
Ripley High School, Ripley
Library
Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, Logan
Building A, Room A-211
Shepherd University, Shepherdstown
Erma Ora Byrd Hall – 1st Floor
West Virginia Northern Community College, Wheeling
B&O Building Room 219
West Virginia State University, Institute
Wallace Hall, Room 222
West Virginia University, Morgantown
Woodburn Hall – First Floor
West Virginia University Institute of Technology (Tech), Montgomery
Engineering Laboratories Building
WVU Parkersburg, Parkersburg
Caperton Center – Room C223