‘College Goal Sunday’ helps students, families with financial aid

Students and their families work on FAFSA forms during 'College Goal Sunday.' Photo by Kyle Kernan.

More than 50 students and their families attended the “College Goal Sunday” program held at Windsor High School on Jan. 29. The college application process can be burdensome enough, but filling out the FAFSA form for financial aid can be an absolute headache. College Goal Sunday gives students and their families direction while they are completing the FAFSA application.

The form can be difficult to navigate for the average parent or student, so the program gives advice and clarification on filling out the document, which can be completed online. In addition, information about the benefits of attending college, student support services, areas of study and different degree programs was also offered.

Glenn A. Cassis, the Connecticut College Goal Sunday statewide site coordinator, made a visit to see the progress of Windsor’s program. “We had a very good turnout this year,” Cassis said. “Every year we get more strategic in using advertising and press releases to encourage families and students to visit our program, and we also had more partners this year.” College Goal Sunday received funding from the Luna Foundation and YMCA.

The program tries to encourage first-generation students with moderate to low incomes to visit the program in hopes it alleviates the doubt they may not qualify for financial aid. College advisors who attended the event relayed the fact that many students who are accepted to colleges end up not going because they think they will not qualify for financial aid.

Many of the difficulties encountered by students and their families are troubleshooting dilemmas on the FAFSA site and identifying what means what on their tax return. “It can be very confusing. The burden is so cumbersome, it feels like a load has been lifted,” said Marlo Steward-Carroll, mother of Madison Powell, who attends Windsor High School and is eager to go to college.

Last year’s College Goal Sunday at the University of Hartford brought in 100 to 150 students, and at Capital Community College, 70 students and their families attended. The program requires a place with enough computers for the students and families to work on their FAFSA forms, while advisors offer advice and support.

"This has been a huge relief and crucial part of the process to encourage students to go to college,” said Kristina Wallace, an intern at the Windsor guidance department. “Here, students can find the resources they need to make this trip into unknown territory more manageable,”

“It was a great turnout; it was a nice event for us today,” said Windsor High School Principal Sills Russell. “The program is a way for students to make sure they meet the deadline. [The deadline for the state of Connecticut is Feb. 15, for priority consideration.] In a lot of cases, these kids are the first in their families to go to college.”

“In addition to financial aid support, families are given supplement material, books on scholarships one can apply for, and a survey that can be mailed in,” said Lori Foote, facilitator for the Windsor program.