In an effort to allow more families to attend, MTSU financial aid officials have shifted the university’s annual College Goal Sunday event to this Saturday, Jan. 5.

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Jan. 5 in the Business and Aerospace Building.

College Goal Sunday assists students planning to attend any college, particularly with the completion and online submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, information required to qualify for financial aid.

Leann Eaton, an associate director in MTSU’s financial aid office, said the university  “once again is excited to host a College Goal Tennessee event geared toward any entering college student no matter where they plan to attend.”

Eaton explained the change to holding the event on Saturday.

“MTSU chose the first Saturday in January so that prospective students can complete their FAFSA application early so that they may meet any state, federal and institutional financial aid deadlines,” she said.

“We moved our College Goal event to a Saturday in the hopes of having more families participate. This way, families can come complete their FAFSA applications in the morning and it still leaves their afternoon free.”

Eaton said financial aid personnel will provide information sessions on completing the FAFSA and to make families aware of the most common mistakes made when completing the FAFSA.

“Families then will be able to complete their FAFSA application in a computer lab, which will be staffed by financial aid representatives as well as representatives from the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation,” she said.

To complete the FAFSA, each family is encouraged to bring a copy of their 2011 tax return as well as their final 2012 paycheck stubs.

Pre-registration is encouraged, but not required. The event is free.

For more information, visit http://www.mtsu.edu/financial-aid/. To assist with parking, a printable campus map is available at http://tinyurl.com/MTParkingMap12-13. 

College Goal Sunday events will be held across Tennessee from Jan. 5 through Feb. 10. Visit www.tn.gov/collegegoalsunday for more information, registration details and all locations and dates.

— Randy Weiler (randy.weiler@mtsu.edu)