SAULT STE. MARIE - Lake Superior State University is one of several sites throughout the state that will be offering financial aid advice to parents of prospective college students during College Goal Sunday on Feb. 12.
It's the second year LSSU has sponsored the program, which will be held at 21 locations in Michigan. LSSU's event will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Walker Cisler Center. The program will make it easier for families of prospective students to take the necessary steps in finding tuition assistance, including loans and scholarships.
Besides advice on securing financial aid for college, those who attend will be shown how to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. LSSU will have computers with Internet connections so families may file their FAFSA online. The federal government and university financial aid offices encourage students and families to file the FAFSA before March 1 to ensure their best chances of receiving adequate financial aid.
"On average, students pay less than half the cost of their tuition out of pocket," said Bryan Taylor, president of Partnership for Learning, which is coordinating College Goal Sunday. "Much gets picked up by scholarships and grants, while loans can cover the rest - as long as students file a FAFSA to qualify for them."
Taylor said too often families don't submit the FAFSA, or they wait until after the March 1 deadline to complete it. A recent study by the American Council on Education found that half of undergraduates failed to complete the FAFSA, and that an estimated 850,000 more low-income students could have received a Pell Grant for up to $4,050 if only they had sent in the form.
Taylor said even seniors who are still unsure if they'll go to college should submit the form so they can get in line early for funding and find out how much they might receive, should they change their mind about attending.
When they come to campus on Feb. 12, parents and students should bring identification and their completed 2005 IRS 1040 tax return, if possible, or their W-2 and 1099 forms. Students younger than 23 years of age are encouraged to attend with a parent or guardian. Participants should arrive by 2 p.m. More details are available at www.micollegegoal.org http://www.micollegegoal.org. During business hours, help is also available by calling program sponsor Partnership for Learning at 1-800-832-2464, or LSSU Financial Aid, 635-2678.
