Wednesday, February 07, 2007

By Brian Brooks, UNCW Marketing and Communications Intern

WILMINGTON. N.C. - Area high school seniors and their parents are invited to this year's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Day at University of North Carolina Wilmington. The fifth annual FAFSA event will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Feb. 17 in Bear Hall. Attendance is required for students to be considered for all federal and most state financial aid, including grants, for college.

More than 50 locations will be open across the state for students and parents to help students and their parents fill out and complete the forms with college financial aid officers and counselors. Last year, nearly 125 families were assisted in filing their FAFSA forms.

High school seniors are encouraged to register for the event through CFNC to find the most convenient location near them. A list of all locations and online registration is available at www.CFNC.org/fafsaday or by calling 1.866.866.CFNC. All sites are open to any student, and they do not need to be planning to attend the college hosting the event.

Counselors and staff from UNCW Financial Aid and Veterans Services as well as volunteers from the Cape Fear Community College and guidance counselors from area high school will assist students and their parents in completing and processing the FAFSA for the 2007-08 academic year. In preparation for completing the FAFSA, participants should bring both the student's AND parents' federal 1040 tax forms for 2006. Prior to FAFSA Day, each participating student and parent are also encouraged (though not required) to obtain a Personal Identification Number (PIN) from the U.S. Department of Education website, www.pin.ed.gov

To save time on the day of the event, it is also helpful if participants will complete as much of the FAFSA on the Web worksheet as possible prior to the event. The online worksheet is available at www.fafsa.ed.gov If all answers on the forms can not be filled out, the financial aid officers on site can help with any questions and concerns. AKE

For more information about planning, applying or paying for college, visit CFNC.org or call toll-free 1.866.866.CFNC.

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