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Financial aid event for prospective college students

Feb. 8, 2011

KALAMAZOO--College-bound high school students and their families from around the area will be on the Western Michigan University campus Sunday, Feb. 13, to find out how to maximize their college financial aid opportunities.

College Goal Sunday, an event held from 2 to 4 p.m. in Schneider Hall, is one of more than two dozen such events being held at sites around the state to help high school seniors fill out their Free Application for Federal Student Financial Aid--FAFSA--and submit it in time to ensure eligibility for maximum benefit.

The free event is a collaborative effort of the Michigan Department of Education, the Michigan Student Financial Aid Association and EduGuide, a non-profit network of people helping all children reach their full potential. The program was created to increase the number of students who continue education beyond high school and earn post-secondary degrees. The FAFSA is required of any student seeking financial aid including grants, loans, and many scholarships. Last year, more than 1,900 students received assistance at College Goal Sunday events.

"It is critical that high school seniors and their parents are aware of these College Goal Sunday events," said Bryan Taylor, president of EduGuide. "Students must complete and file a FAFSA in order to secure financial aid and should file by the March 1 priority date to ensure eligibility for federal and state programs." Statistics show that students who complete and submit FAFSA forms are more likely to go on to college.

On College Goal Sunday, financial aid experts will be available to guide students and their parents through each step of completing and filing the FAFSA. Students under 23 years of age are encouraged to attend with a parent or guardian.

Students attending should bring their personal information needed to fill out the form such as their FAFSA PIN or Personal Identification Number as well as their driver's license, parental income and tax information and social security numbers. A complete list of items needed, along with additional details on the event and how to win a $1,000 scholarship, three $500 scholarships, an iPod Nano, and a Dell laptop computer is online at micollegegoal.org.

For more information, contact Carol Mountjoy at carol.mountjoy@wmich.edu or (269) 387-6019.

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Media contact: Deanne Puca, (269) 387-8400, deanne.puca@wmich.edu

WMU News
Office of University Relations
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA
(269) 387-8400
www.wmich.edu/news