2013 College Goal Sunday Program

If you are headed to college there are several important decisions and tasks you must complete before actually going to college.

The initial steps are:

Get admitted to college by completing an admission application
Pay the admission application fee
Send your official transcript to the college you want to attend
Some schools require more (scholarship application, written essay and a interview)

I always recommend that before a student actually attends a college they should set up a campus visit and tour the campus and residence halls. Sometimes viewing the campus photos in the catalog or online sometimes is different from actually physically going to visit. Plus if students are going to live on campus they are definitely going to want to see the condition of the residence halls on campus.

In my opinion one of the most important steps that will need to be completed is financial aid. For the last 13 years I have assisted high school seniors and adults with the financial aid process and to say the least it can be very intimidating for students and their families. One thing is for sure; a student can get admitted to the college of their choice and visit the campus. However, if the student does not have the funds to pay for tuition, fees, books and room and board they will not be able attend.

Here is where the College Goal Sunday Program is useful. Each year students and their families can attend this event, which will help them complete the FAFSA. FAFSA stands for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The FAFSA process is all completed electronically.

In many circumstances, the form and the process are complicated. There are terms and questions that students and parents are not accustomed to hearing or reading. College Goal Sunday exists to eliminate this barrier in the college process.

The atmosphere is great for the students and their parents. The students high school counselor or a college prep program like TRIO-Upward Bound, GEAR UP or AVID or any other program or service who serves students and adults will inform students.

Once students register they attend the event. In my area light snacks are served in one room, students sign in and a computer lab is available. The parents and students meet with a financial aid expert at the computer and the FAFSA is completed.

Students, particularly if they are attending without a parent, will need to bring the following information:

Social Security number (can be found on Social Security card) Driver's license (if any)
2012 income tax return (if completed)
2012 W-2 Forms and other records of money earned
2012 untaxed income records - Social Security, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, welfare, or veterans benefits records
Your latest bank statement
2012 business and investment mortgage information, business and farm records, stock, bond, and other investment records
Your alien registration card (if you are not a U.S. citizen)

The College Goal Sunday Program is highly recommended and the attendance rates are very high. If you happen to be a high school student or a returning adult who intends on going to college you will need to look for this event to assist you. Just go to collegegoalsundayusa.org and put in your location and you will be informed of the dates, location and time of the event in your area.

The Wichita, Ks and state of Kansas events will be held on February 24, 2013 from 2pm to 4pm at the following locations:

Arkansas City
Cowley County Community College
Webb-Brown Building
125 S 2nd St.

Atchison
Benedictine College
Library
1020 N 2nd Street

Concordia
Cloud County Community College
Room 258
2221 Campus Drive

Dodge City
Dodge City Community College
210 Science and Math Bldg., Academic Success Center
2501 North 14th Ave.

El Dorado
Butler County Community College
1500 Building
901 S. Haverhill Road

Emporia
Emporia High School
Library
3302 W. 18th Avenue

Garden City
Garden City High School
2720 Buffalo Way

Great Bend
Great Bend High School
2027 Morton Street

Hays
Thomas More Prep-Marian High School
Cafeteria
1701 Hall Street

Hutchinson
Hutchinson Community College and Area Vocational School
Parker Student Union
1300 N. Plum

Iola
Allen County Community College
Student Success Center
1801 N. Cottonwood