(Albany, NY: Jan. 28, 2015) As New York City high school students begin planning for college, they and their families are also considering how to pay for it. The New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC), together with College Goal NY, are helping students across the State apply for college financial aid with hands-on assistance with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, the FAFSA. HESC’s state-wide awareness campaign includes a comprehensive website, StartHereGetThere.org.

Completing the FAFSA is the first step to obtaining federal, state and institutional financial aid, not only for needy families, but for any student attending college in September.

“College-bound students and families from all walks of life and from all areas of New York need to complete a FAFSA, whether or not they think they will qualify for aid,” said Sugeni Perez-Sadler, Associate Director of College and Career Planning in the New York City Department of Education. “Thousands of students, who would have received a Pell Grant, left that money on the table last year, because they mistakenly believed they wouldn’t qualify.” Pell Grants provide up to $5,730 of college aid that does not have to be paid back.

“Additionally, more than half of those not filing a FAFSA would have qualified for a low-cost federal loan that is provided without consideration of financial need,” Perez-Sadler continued.

Together with volunteer financial aid administrators from area colleges, HESC and College Goal New York are co-hosting workshops across all New York boroughs to provide one-on-one professional assistance with FAFSA completion. To find other events near you, chat online or to learn more about the college financial aid opportunities available, visit StartHereGetThere.org.

A toll-free hotline at 1-800-808-1790, open 9 am to 5 pm Mondays through Thursdays through February 25 and email assistance at FAFSAhelp@HESC.ny.gov are also available to help with FAFSA or financial aid questions.

About HESC:
HESC is New York State’s student financial aid agency that helps people pay for college and a national leader in providing need based grant and scholarship award money to college-going students. At HESC’s core are programs like the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), numerous state scholarships, federal college access grants and a highly successful College Savings program. HESC puts college within the reach of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers each year through programs like these and through the guidance it provides to students, families and counselors. In 2013-14, HESC helped more than 388,000 students achieve their college dreams by providing more than $984 million in grants, scholarships and loan forgiveness benefits, including $935.5 million awarded through the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP).

About College Goal NY: College Goal NY is a collaborative public service project of the New York State Financial Aid Administrators Association (NYSFAAA) and the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC). College Goal NY is comprised of numerous FAFSA completion events set in targeted areas throughout New York State which have a history of high financial need and submit a disproportionately small number of online FAFSA applications. College Goal NY is part of a volunteer program, College Goal Sunday^SM, with a focus on helping low-income, first-generation families complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the form necessary to qualify for many student aid programs to pay college expenses. College Goal Sunday is owned and managed by USA Funds, which provides grants to support College Goal Sunday events nationwide.