Frequently Asked Questions

What is College Goal Sunday?

College Goal Sunday is a program that started in Indiana in 1989 to meet a specific need—to help students get to college. The program has been implemented in 47 states. Visit www.collegegoalsundayusa.org for more information.

What is College Goal Oregon?

College Goal Oregon is a FREE event designed to help Oregon college-bound students and their families with the financial aid application process. Everyone is invited to attend this event, whether they are high school or non-traditional returning students. Financial aid professionals will be on hand to help attendees complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Oregon Student Assistance Commission (OSAC) scholarship application. 

Who should attend College Goal Oregon?

Anybody who needs financial aid for postsecondary education should attend College Goal Oregon. Even though many of the sites are community colleges, you do not need to be attending (or planning on attending) that college to get help. If you are unable to attend College Goal Oregon on January 30th, you can sign up for Friday FAFSA Webinars. Click here (Coming Soon) for dates and times.

What documents should I bring with me to the College Goal Oregon event?

• Yourself and a parent if possible
• Most recent completed federal tax return. If you haven’t filled out your taxes yet, estimate. You can send in exact numbers later. 
• Current value of assets, including cash, checking, savings, investments, and value of business/farm, if any. 
• Social Security numbers of student and parents
• Driver's license (if any)
• Alien registration card (if you are not a U.S. citizen)

Who sponsors the event?

College Goal Oregon is a partnership project of the Oregon Student Assistance Commission, Oregon Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, and the YMCA, with financial support from The Lumina Foundation for Education.

What is OSAC?

OSAC is an independent state agency that administers federal and state financial aid programs, including the state’s largest need-based Oregon Opportunity Grant (OOG) and more than 400 private and public scholarship programs. In 2008-09, the OOG provided more than $68 million in awards for Oregon residents with financial need, and OSAC private and public scholarship awards totaled more than $16 million. For more information about the Oregon Opportunity Grant or to fill out an OSAC scholarship application, go to www.GetCollegeFunds.org

What is financial aid?

Financial aid for college comes from a variety of government and private programs. These include:
- Grants, which do not have to be repaid
- Loans, which have to be repaid
- Wages for work performed (also called work-study)
- Scholarships, which are competitive earnings that do not have to be repaid

What is the FAFSA?

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form that must be filled out by every student seeking financial aid for attendance at any school in the nation. This form calculates a family’s financial need—it creates an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) that is a measure of how much or little a family can support a student in college. For more information, or to fill out the FAFSA online, go to www.fafsa.gov

Why is the FAFSA important?

Eligibility for most types of financial aid is based on need, which is measured by the FAFSA. Most federal aid, including grants, work-study, and even loans, use the EFC in order calculate how much aid to give each student. Many private scholarships also ask for FAFSA results in order to determine financial need.

Can my parents and I fill out the FAFSA over the Internet?

Yes, you can fill out the FAFSA online. You can sign the FAFSA electronically with a pin code, or print out, sign and mail in a paper signature page (You will be able to fill out and electronically submit the FAFSA at College Goal Oregon if you choose to).

If you or your parents do not already have a PIN, we encourage you to apply for one. You can apply for a PIN while completing a FAFSA on the Web application, or you can go to the Federal Student Aid PIN Web site at www.pin.ed.gov to apply.

Tip: You may use your PIN for the duration of your school experience and beyond. The PIN stays the same.

What is a pin and how do I get one?

A pin is your electronic signature for the FAFSA and the renewal FAFSA on the Web. Use the pin to access your student aid history or correct your student aid report online. Request a pin at www.pin.ed.gov. Dependant applicants and parents each need a pin.

If you or your parents do not already have a PIN, we encourage you to apply for one. You can apply for a PIN while completing a FAFSA on the Web application, or you can go to the Federal Student Aid PIN Web site at www.pin.ed.gov to apply.

Tip: You may use your PIN for the duration of your school experience and beyond. The PIN stays the same.

When should I fill out the FAFSA need analysis form?

You should apply as soon as possible after January 1. If you (and your parents if necessary) have not yet filed your taxes for 2009, use estimated figures (off of 2008 W-2s or final paystubs for 2009). Once you have completed your taxes for 2009, you may make corrections if needed. It is better to use estimated figures early and correct them later, rather than miss any deadlines schools may have.

Do I only have to fill out the FAFSA once?

No. The FAFSA must be filled out every year you plan to attend college and information given should be about the previous year. All college students filling out the FAFSA in January of 2010 will sum up their financial status and earnings from 2009.  However, your application information is saved online from year-to-year, making it easier to complete.

Where can I find more information about student aid?

Go to www.ed.gov/studentaid for good access to information and publications about student aid. For information about financial aid in Oregon, go to the OSAC website at www.GetCollegeFunds.org.