Free FAFSA help available during College Goal Sunday, Oct. 28

September 27, 2018

Event: College Goal Sunday
Date and time: Sunday, Oct. 28, 2 p.m.
Location: Goshen College Union Building (map)
Cost: Free

During College Goal Sunday, Oct. 28, from 2-4 p.m., financial aid professionals will be volunteering to help college-bound Indiana students and their families complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and open the door to financial aid. The free event will take place in the Goshen College Union Building, and Spanish interpretation will be available.

Now in its 30th year, College Goal Sunday is an event held at 39 sites across Indiana that provides FREE FAFSA filing assistance to Hoosier families.

A complete list of sites is available at CollegeGoalSunday.org.

Important dates:

March 1, 2019: Goshen College Priority FAFSA deadline (to be able to receive all federal, state and institutional need-based aid)
April 15, 2019: Indiana FAFSA deadline
June 30, 2019: Federal FAFSA deadline

What students should bring (download PDF)

Students should attend College Goal Sunday with their parent(s) or guardian(s), and parents should bring:

FSA ID (It is strongly encouraged to create this prior to the event!)
- Every student AND parent should apply for a FSA ID at fsaid.ed.gov
- This will serve as your electronic signature on the FAFSA

Personal documents － (students and parents)
- Social Security Number
- Driver’s License Number
- Alien registration number or permanent residence card if you are not a U.S. Citizen

Proof of Income － (students and parents)
- 2017 W-2 forms or other records of money earned or received
- Untaxed income, including workers compensation; child support; housing, food and other living allowances; veterans benefits, etc.
Tax documents － (students and parents)
- 2017 Federal Income Tax Return (IRS tax form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ) if you were required to file. If you have not yet completed your tax return, you can still submit your FAFSA using best estimates (ie: 2016 tax return numbers). After you submit your tax return, it’s easy to correct any income or tax information that is different from what you initially submitted on your FAFSA).
Assets － (students and parents)
- Bank statements
- Business and investment information; business and farm records; stocks, bonds and other investment records if applicable

Volunteers will walk through the online form line-by-line and answer families’ individual questions as needed. Goshen College offers FAFSA online capabilities and Spanish interpreters.

Click here for tips and resources for students and families

Attendees may win educational prizes

At College Goal Sunday, in addition to help filing the FAFSA, students may also win a $1,000 scholarship! Five scholarships are available and students who attend any of the College Goal Sunday sites and submit a completed evaluation form will automatically be entered in a drawing for one of the $1,000 scholarships. The winners will be notified in December and prizes will be sent directly to the higher education institution selected by the winning students.

21st Century Scholars benefit

21st Century Scholars are income-eligible students who sign a contract in the seventh or eighth grade promising they will graduate from high school, meet grade point requirements, fulfill a pledge of good citizenship, and apply for college financial aid. Upon high school graduation, Scholars who have fulfilled the commitment and demonstrate financial need (based off FAFSA) receive state funds to help cover their college tuition and regularly assessed fees for eight semesters at eligible Indiana colleges. To fulfill their pledge, scholars MUST submit a completed FAFSA form on time. College Goal Sunday can help.

Complete FAFSA by April 15

Completing the FAFSA form correctly and on time is often perceived to be complicated and time consuming, but is required for students to be considered for federal and state grants, scholarships and student loans at most colleges, universities and vocational/technical schools nationwide. The FAFSA must be filed by April 15, 2019 to be eligible for Indiana financial aid, and June 30 to be eligible for federal financial aid.

Now in its 30th year, College Goal Sunday has helped more than 90,000 Indiana students and families complete the FAFSA properly and on time. College Goal Sunday is a charitable program of the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association (ISFAA).

“With the FAFSA start date moving forward from January to October, College Goal Sunday made the decision to add a November event in addition to the traditional February event,” said Bill Wozniak, co-chair of College Goal Sunday. “Now there will be two College Goal Sunday events across Indiana to help families file the FAFSA, and bring students one step closer to fulfilling their educational goals.”

According to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, programs like College Goal Sunday are reaching first-generation college students. In recent years, according to CHE statistics, more single-parent Hoosier families have filed for financial aid, indicating programs like College Goal Sunday are reaching high-risk students and their families.

“Students who don’t complete their financial aid paperwork properly and on time are often very disappointed when they find out how much financial aid they lost,” said Wozniak. “This is why the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association not only continues to provide College Goal Sunday, but added a second event this year. If our assistance gives students a better chance at higher education and less debt, we’re fulfilling our mission.”

Program is a national model

College Goal Sunday originated right here in Indiana, and is now a national model. Following Indiana’s example, College Goal Sunday events organized by more than 34 states have opened doors to higher education for tens of thousands of students all over the country.For more information about College Goal Sunday visit CollegeGoalSunday.org.