College Goal Sunday, FAFSA Help at WVNCC

What’s a FAFSA?

If you’re planning on continuing your education after high school or going back to college, you definitely need to know the answer to that question because you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as the FAFSA.

You and your family can get free help filling out and submitting the FAFSA during College Goal Sunday, a one-day event that will be held at 23 locations throughout the state of West Virginia, including the Wheeling campus of West Virginia Northern Community College in a partnership with West Liberty University and Wheeling Jesuit University.

From 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 10, financial aid experts from those institutions will be available in Room 219 of the WVNCC B&O Building, 1704 Market St., downtown Wheeling, to assist students and their families by offering free one-on-one, confidential support. Plus, students who attend a College Goal Sunday workshop will be entered to win an Apple iPad.

For the uninitiated, take note that the FAFSA is a crucial step for all students who plan to pay for any college with the help of grants, scholarships, work-study funds and/or student loans. The free Sunday workshop is for anyone planning to attend college — for the first time or as a returning student — in the fall of 2013. Any student can attend any workshop, even if you don't go or plan to go to school at the location you choose to attend.

WVNCC’s Janet Fike, vice president of student services/director of financial aid at West Virginia Northern, explained that the financial aid experts from Northern, WLU and WJU will be available to assist anyone planning to attend college, regardless of their age or income. Refreshments will be available.

Fike explained individuals who plan to attend college and would like help with completion of the FAFSA or would like answers regarding general financial aid questions should bring the following items for the students and parents:

- Identification (such as a driver's license)
- Social Security Number
- Most Recent Tax Records (2012 preferred, but 2011 is OK)
- Untaxed Income Records
- Bank Account Balances
- Alien Registration or Permanent ID card (if you are not a US citizen)

All the financial aid volunteers at College Goal Sunday workshops are professionals who will not share families’ information. Students who participate will submit the FAFSA onsite, through the federal government’s online form, which is completely secure.

For complete details, including directions and a list of what to bring, visit www.cfwv.com to pre-register, which is encouraged.

2/4/13