Get dollars for college: Fill out the FAFSA in January before the deadline passes

David Coven, a 17-year-old Cleveland High School senior, knows how important January is for his future and the future of thousands of college-bound students in Washington state. This month is when federal and state grants -- not loans -- become available. If you know students applying for financial assistance, one of your New Year's resolutions should be to help them secure money for college as soon as possible by encouraging them to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

David is a remarkable young man. He is Cleveland's Associated Student Body president, and the classes he is taking are critical for someone whose passion is bio-engineering and mechanical engineering. He is applying at the University of Washington, Western Washington University as well as top universities out of state like Stanford, Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Financial assistance must be part of the package: He's being raised by a single mom with three other children in the family.

For students like David, getting the facts on just what financial aid is available can literally make the difference in their choice of college -- or going to college at all.

The College Success Foundation, in coordination with Northwest Education Loan Association, the Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Roadmap Project/Community Center for Educational Results, Washington College Access Network, College Spark Washington, the College Access Challenge Grant Program, Lumina Foundation and school districts are joining forces with College Goal Sunday Washington to ensure that students have access to the resources and support to complete the federal financial assistance process.

College Goal Sunday Washington is a free, on-site program that helps students and families complete the FAFSA -- the form that is required to apply for federal financial assistance for higher education. The FAFSA is the single-most important application for financial aid.

This month at events taking place in 60 different locations across Washington, students can get in-depth help to fill out the FAFSA and learn how to secure the money for college, which unfortunately, continues to get more expensive and out of reach. (Tuition costs are rising more than 10 percent annually.)

While nearly 63 percent of Washington students rely on financial aid to make attending college a reality, the process of applying for it can feel overwhelming. At College Goal Sunday Washington, students and parents can:

•Talk with expert financial aid administrators;

•Learn about all filing deadlines and other important information regarding paying for college; and,

•Learn how to search and apply for scholarships at www.TheWashBoard.org.

Events will take place at high schools, college campuses, public libraries and community centers at various times and locations. For a full listing of times and statewide locations visit www.collegegoalsundaywa.org.

For David Covens and thousands of other Washington high school students, January is their time. Whether students plan to attend a four-year college, community college, vocational or technical school, College Goal Sunday Washington can help them find the financial resources to make it happen.

For more information please visit www.collegegoalsundaywa.org or call 888-758-2253.


Bob Craves is chair and CEO of the College Success Foundation. For 10 years CSF has worked with low-income, underserved students to finish high school and providing the unique integrated system of supports and scholarships they need to graduate college and succeed in life. To date, CSF has awarded over 8,000 scholarships and has seen nearly 2,400 students graduating with bachelor's degrees. For more information, visit www.collegesuccessfoundation.org.