College-bound students and their parents can get help filling out financial aid forms at clinics around the state later this month.

Professional financial aid staff will lead participants step by step through the FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The clinics will be held Jan. 28 at Seattle Central Community College and six other locations around the state.

The Seattle-based Northwest Education Loan Association is sponsoring the workshops.

Students must fill out and submit financial aid forms by Feb. 15 to receive priority consideration for financial aid, such as grants or loans. Anyone pursuing higher education -- whether at a community college or four-year institution -- should turn in the FAFSA.

But many students don't, said Danette Knudson, spokeswoman for the loan association. Although they are prepared academically for college, they can't attend because of a lack of funds.

Just one-quarter of the state's high school seniors filled out the FAFSA last year, according to the loan association.

Some find the task daunting.

Parent Arleen Busch had trouble filling out the forms in the past for her children and sought assistance from the loan association.

"It was really hard to do," she said "It just frustrated me."

She plans to attend the financial aid clinic later this month to ensure that she is completing the FAFSA correctly for her son, a student at Central Washington University, and daughter, a student at Bethune-Cookman College in Florida.

Busch, who works in the library at Cleveland High School, hopes to learn enough to help the students at her school.

"I want to know for myself," she said. "And I can use it to help the kids."

More than 60 percent of college students nationally receive an average of $7,400 annually in financial aid, according to the loan association.

APPLYING FOR AID

Clinics to help students and parents fill out college financial aid forms will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28. Local events will be held at:

Seattle Central Community College, 1701 Broadway.

Everett Community College, 2000 Tower St.

Tacoma Temple Theater, 47 St. Helens Ave.

Registration is not required, but students can sign up online to guarantee a spot. When attending a clinic, parents should bring recent tax forms or pay stubs. Students should bring their Social Security number and driver's license, if available.

For more information, call 888-758-2253 or visit www.collegegoalsundaywa.org.

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