What is College Goal Sunday?
College Goal Sunday is a free service to help students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In 2008, South Dakota will host the event on February 10, 2008, when students (and parents) to receive free help to complete the online FAFSA and to get financial aid information.

Who should attend College Goal Sunday?
Anyone interested in attending college the following year should attend College Goal Sunday.  Whether you're planning on attending a college, university, technical school, or are still undecided about continuing your education, bring your parents or legal guardians along and complete the FAFSA.

What should I bring to College Goal Sunday?
Students and parents should bring as much of the following as they can:

• Completed 2007 IRS 1040 tax returns
• W-2 statements
• 2007 income and assets information - bank statements, investment records
• 2007 untaxed income records - Social Security, welfare, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, veterans benefits records
• FAFSA PIN (www.pin.ed.gov)
• Driver's license
• Social Security numbers
• Alien registration card (if you are not a U.S. citizen)

What if I haven't completed my taxes or if I forget something?
You may use estimated tax information, though the actual information will be needed later.  You can still attend and get questions answered, receive help from financial aid professionals, and complete as much of the form as possible.  You can save your FAFSA online and finish it later.  This allows you to submit your form after the event once you have the needed materials.

What is the FAFSA?
The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the general application form needed to apply for aid for college.

Will I qualify for financial aid?
All students who complete the FAFSA are guaranteed some form of aid.  The information you submit, though, will determine how much aid you can receive and what form it will take (grants, loans, etc.).

Do I need to register?
In order to receive the best service possible, please register to attend at the site most convenient for you.

Who sponsors College Goal Sunday?
College Goal Sunday in South Dakota is sponsored by the South Dakota Association of Financial Aid Administrators (SDASFAA).

Additional questions about the FAFSA for foster youth or wards of the court

The History of College Goal Sunday

College Goal Sunday is a volunteer program that helps students and families who need assistance in completing financial aid forms, giving particular focus to helping low-income, first generation students. The program got its start in Indiana in 1989 as a joint project of the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association (ISFAA) and the State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana (SSACI), with funding from Lilly Endowment, Inc.

College Goal Sunday is designed to remove barriers that have kept many qualified students from pursuing a higher education. Research shows that families see the high cost of a college education as the main barrier between them and a degree, even though millions of dollars in various forms of financial aid are available to students. The simple fact is many families - particularly minority, low income, and first generation college students - are not applying for those funds. These students and their families need two things: First, they need to receive more information about the availability of financial aid, and second, they need expert assistance in filling out the required paperwork.

On College Goal Sunday (traditionally, a week or two after Super Bowl Sunday), ISFFA professionals volunteered in selected community sites in Indiana to help families complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid ).

Over time, College Goal Sunday has attracted a number of important and loyal allies, such as former National Football League standout Bill Brooks, who volunteered his personal endorsement for the first College Goal Sunday and remains the program's faithful celebrity spokesman.