DAYTON — The University of Dayton will help area families to navigate the tricky waters of college financial aid, regardless of whether their children are attending UD.

UD will host "College Goal Sunday" at 2 p.m. Feb. 8 on the UD campus. The event is free and open to the public.

"We have computers set up and we actually sit with families and go through the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) with them and help them submit it, even if they're not coming to UD," said Kathy McEuen Harmon, director of financial aid.

The FAFSA is the process by which all federal student financial aid is determined, including Pell grants, student loans and college work-study programs. It also is used to apply for need-based aid from state or school sources.

"That's where you start, at the FAFSA," Harmon said. "We encourage all families to complete it."

The FAFSA form is filled out annually based on the previous year's tax information. "If a student has it into us by early March, that usuallßy means they're going to be in the running for all aid that is available," Harmon said. "The later you wait, funds run out."

The FAFSA doesn't have much impact on scholarships, which are based on student performance.

"The better a student does in high school, the more chances there are for that child to get very good scholarships," Harmon said.

Many organizations and foundations will advertise their scholarships through high school guidance offices. Families also can look for scholarship opportunities through their employers, churches and organizations to which they belong.

In addition, families can contact the financial aid offices at the colleges their children are considering to see what scholarships are available at that school.

Harmon advised parents to be wary of organizations that charge a fee to submit your application or to find you money for school because some might be scams.

"Scholarships from reputable organizations, people have given money and they want that money to go to a student," Harmon said. "Families should not have to pay to get a scholarship."

Register online for "College Goal Sunday" at www.ohiocollegegoalsunday.org or by phone at (877) 428-8246.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2419 or dlarsen@DaytonDailyNews.com.