4 Places to Go for FAFSA Help

(MoneyWatch)  Need help completing the FAFSA form?

So do millions of parents. Despite the federal government's efforts to simplify the FAFSA application, the form continues to bewilder and intimidate parents.

But cheer up. Today I'm sharing four FAFSA resources that should help you cut down on the confusion:

FAFSA on the Web. The U.S. Department of Education feels your FAFSA pain, which is why it has operators standing by to answer your FAFSA questions. You can call the FAFSA phone number: [phone]. You can also receive help online by hitting the "Live Help" button when you are filling out your actual FAFSA application.

College Goal Sunday. If you prefer talking to someone in person about your FAFSA form, check out College Goal Sunday. This nonprofit program, which is sponsored in part by the YMCA, offers personal FAFSA counseling at weekend events scattered across the country. You can use College Goal Sunday's state map to find the financial aid event closest to you.

TuitionCoach. This financial aid consulting site is offering free financial aid Webinars in January that provides step-by-step guidance on completing the FAFSA form , as well as a live Q&A session.

FAFSA on the Web Worksheet. It's best to know what you're up against before you log on the FAFSA site and complete the financial aid form. Download the free worksheet ahead of time so you can gather all the required financial and tax documents.

Lynn O'Shaughnessy is the author of The College Solution and she also writes about college for TheCollegeSolutionBlog.

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FAFSA application image by Marco Bellucci. CC 2.0.