CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia students can get instruction filling out their applications for federal student aid during the state’s sixth annual College Goal event Sunday. Workshops will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at 24 locations across the state.
The College Foundation of West Virginia is coordinating the event. Autumn Perry, coordinator of College Access and Success Programs, said the access to financial aid professionals is the most helpful part about the process.
“They’re there to speak one-on-one to families and provide that hands on help, sit right down at the computer, walk them right through the process and answer any questions they may have,” said Perry.
Completing the FAFSA can be critical for anyone planning to pursue education after high school. It is the application for federal student aid and well as state financial aide programs.
“The state financial aid programs also use the information from FAFSA to check eligibility for state grant and scholarship programs. Many of the colleges and universities use information from FAFSA to track eligibility for financial aid programs that they have, so it’s very important,” Perry said.
Some people are concerned with being unable to complete their FAFSA if they haven’t completed their 2014 tax returns, but Perry encourages all students to bring their information with them to the event whether they’ve done so or not. She said the financial aid process can seem a little intimidating at first.
“In actuality, it takes about 30 minutes to get through the process, especially with your help there at College Goal Sunday,” she said, “You can also bring your 2013 tax information and it can be estimated based on that.”
Students and families should also bring a driver’s license, and both the student’s and parent’s Social Security number. Students can pre-register, find locations and view a list of items to bring by visiting www.cfwv.com, the state’s free college- and career-planning web portal.
To find out where the nearest workshop is located, to pre-register, and view a list of items to bring students can visit The College Foundation of West Virginia’s website at www.cfwv.com.
College Goal Sunday is open to students of all ages and all income levels, including high school seniors, current college students, and adults thinking about earning a degree or skill certificate.