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The past 180 days of articles are displayed below.
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Tip of the Week
December 07, 2022
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Understanding taxes webinar recording available
December 07, 2022
Financial aid is in the midst of some of the most dramatic changes in the industry in decades.
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Completing the FAFSA webinar recording available with Spanish subtitles
December 01, 2022
To help more students understand and apply for financial aid, Mapping Your Future is now offering its FAFSA completion webinar with Spanish subtitles.
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Early Awareness E-News
December 01, 2022
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Five important things you should know about financial aid for graduate school
December 01, 2022
For many students, pursuing a graduate or professional degree can provide important career advantages, but for some students the advanced degree is not possible without financial aid.
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For a successful future, seniors must develop these five traits
December 01, 2022
Graduation is a significant milestone for high school students.
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Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News
December 01, 2022
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The two reasons you need to create a FAFSA save key
December 01, 2022
A save key for the FAFSA is not the same as a password, but it could be just as important to helping a student complete the form.
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A candid photo
November 30, 2022
I just wanted one good photo.
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December tasks for high school seniors
November 30, 2022
During your senior year, you will finalize your college choice.
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Displaying your accomplishments
November 30, 2022
Winter break is a good time to get caught up on projects that are harder to find time for during the school year.
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Happy Holidays from Mapping Your Future
November 30, 2022
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Tip of the Week
November 30, 2022
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Draft guide to prepare for changes under FAFSA Simplification
November 29, 2022
In a move to help institutions prepare for upcoming FAFSA Simplification changes, the Department of Education has released a draft guide to determine a student's eligibility for need-based aid.
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Mapping Your Future 2023 holiday calendar
November 29, 2022
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Tip of the Week
November 22, 2022
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A good investment
November 17, 2022
It's not just about the money.
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Department notifies schools of FAFSA Simplification changes for 2023-24
November 17, 2022
In another sign that FAFSA Simplification is on the way, the Department of Education recently notified financial aid professionals of some upcoming changes for 2023-24 Award Year.
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Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News
November 17, 2022
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Schools reminded about upcoming Department of Education deadlines
November 16, 2022
In a world without any deadlines, you could always make edits and corrections.
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Tip of the Week
November 16, 2022
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Institutions reminded to disclose Perkins cash on hand
November 14, 2022
For those schools continuing to offer the Perkins Loan Program to assist students with financial need, there is more work to be done.
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Understanding taxes webinar scheduled
November 14, 2022
Register today for the December 7 webinar.
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Tip of the Week
November 09, 2022
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Change is coming
November 03, 2022
I know that about half the country is going to be very happy next week and the other half will be very upset.
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Department encourages use of soft tokens for secure access to federal systems
November 03, 2022
The Department of Education is recommending financial aid professionals use what are known as soft tokens as a part of the two-factor authentication process needed to access Federal Student Aid systems.
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Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News
November 03, 2022
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New place to find all the latest news on prison education programs
November 02, 2022
With legislative changes in recent years that expanded Pell Grant eligibility to incarcerated students, interest in prison education programs has been increasing.
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Tip of the Week
November 02, 2022
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2022-23 ACT national test dates and registration deadlines
November 01, 2022
Students interested in taking the ACT this academic year should make notes of the upcoming test dates for 2022-23.
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ACT is exploring a digital national test, but it won't be the only option
November 01, 2022
ACT is considering offering a digital version of its college admissions test taken on weekends.
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College costs up slightly but student loan borrowing continues to decline
November 01, 2022
The cost of college increased only slightly in recent years while borrowing and student loan debt amounts declined, according to new reports from the College Board.
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Department releases updated list of federal codes for postsecondary institutions
November 01, 2022
For students, entering the federal school code of a college or university may not be the most common way of listing an institution on the FAFSA.
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Early Awareness E-News
November 01, 2022
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November tasks for high school seniors
November 01, 2022
During your senior year, you will finalize your college choice.
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These numbers have a huge impact on your financial aid offer
November 01, 2022
Whether you love or hate math problems, figuring out the amount of money you'll need for college can be overwhelming.
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Two questions to ask before accepting a grant or scholarship
November 01, 2022
The best way for a student to pay for an education is with grants and scholarships.
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Updated federal school code list released
November 01, 2022
For students, entering the federal school code of a college or university may not be the most common way of listing an institution on the FAFSA.
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Tip of the Week
October 26, 2022
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A contribution to the future
October 20, 2022
You are doing something historic.
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Borrowers with spousal consolidation loans need to act soon for PSLF
October 20, 2022
Borrowers with spousal consolidation loans who want to take advantage of the limited Public Service Loan Forgiveness waiver will need to act soon.
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Department reminds institutions about rules related to debit and prepaid cards
October 20, 2022
Schools that offer campus debit and prepaid cards to their students through arrangements with financial institutions must comply with regulatory obligations in overseeing those arrangements.
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Financial aid industry participants reminded to confirm mailboxes and accounts
October 20, 2022
Financial aid industry organizations that fail to confirm their accounts and mailboxes with Federal Student Aid risk losing access to federal data systems and services.
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Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News
October 20, 2022
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Mapping Your Future third-party servicer reminders
October 20, 2022
Completing forms and paperwork is a necessary part of a financial aid administrator's job.
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New College Financing Plan template available
October 20, 2022
Although this academic year has just gotten underway, financial aid professionals are well into their preparation for next year.
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Workarounds offered to correct FAFSA question about being homeless
October 20, 2022
Students, who mistakenly answered yes to the “homeless or at risk of being homeless” question on the FAFSA and were prevented from providing parent information, now have some workarounds to proceed.
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Tip of the Week
October 19, 2022
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Tip of the Week
October 12, 2022
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Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News
October 06, 2022
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Plan for 2022 Federal Student Aid Conference
October 06, 2022
There won't be any travel hassles, but you will have to carve out some time in your agenda to attend the 2022 FSA Training Conference.
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Student loan default rate drops significantly
October 06, 2022
Hopefully, it's not the calm before the storm.
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This one FAFSA question you should always answer with a yes
October 05, 2022
Applying for federal financial aid has gotten easier in recent years, and you can make it even easier for yourself by preparing ahead to answer the questions on the FAFSA.
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Tip of the Week
October 05, 2022
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Early Awareness E-News
October 04, 2022
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FAFSA webinar recordings available
October 04, 2022
Completing the FAFSA is an important task for students and families.
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Strategies for students (and parents) when money for college runs short
October 04, 2022
With the fall semester well underway, most students have their minds on attending classes and getting good grades – and hopefully not on paying their tuition bill.
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The secrets of scholarship-winning students
October 04, 2022
Applying for scholarships can seem like a lot of work when there’s no guarantee that you will receive any money for your education.
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2023-24 FAFSA form now available
October 03, 2022
If it's October, it's time for fall festivities and time to apply for financial aid.
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Helping students with the why and how of FAFSA completion
October 03, 2022
Now that the 2023-24 FAFSA is available, all students and parents need to do is complete it.
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Worksheet available to prepare for 2023-24 FAFSA
October 03, 2022
With the launch of the 2023-24 FAFSA, the U.S. Department of Education posted a final version of the 2023-24 FAFSA on the Web Worksheet on the StudentAid.gov website.
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October tasks for high school seniors
October 01, 2022
During your senior year, you will finalize your college choice.
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Tip of the Week
September 28, 2022
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Documents available to help prepare for 2023-24 FAFSA
September 22, 2022
With the beginning of a new FAFSA year coming soon, the U.S. Department of Education has posted final versions of the 2023-24 FAFSA on the Web Worksheet and a watermarked version of the final 2023-24 FAFSA.
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Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News
September 22, 2022
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Opportunity to comment on future direction of Federal Student Aid
September 22, 2022
The Federal Student Aid plans for the future are now ready for your review and comment.
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That time of year
September 22, 2022
It is an astronomical event.
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Total outstanding loan balance increased. . . at least for now
September 22, 2022
The amount and status of student loans have changed somewhat since last year, but those changes may be somewhat minor compared to what may be seen in future reports.
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Tip of the Week
September 21, 2022
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Tip of the Week
September 14, 2022
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Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News
September 08, 2022
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Something to cry over
September 08, 2022
Keep the tissue box handy.
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Gearing up for 2023-24 FAFSA season with new presentation materials
September 07, 2022
October first is just a few short weeks away.
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Tip of the Week
September 07, 2022
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Early Awareness E-News
September 01, 2022
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Questions removed from 2023-24 FAFSA
September 01, 2022
It may not save a lot of time in completing the FAFSA, but it is one step closer to FAFSA simplification.
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PSLF Days of Action designated
August 31, 2022
Public servants, such as first responders, healthcare professionals, and educators often act in ways to benefit others and now it's our turn to participate in a Days of Action to benefit them.
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September tasks for high school seniors
August 31, 2022
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Tip of the Week
August 31, 2022
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The key to knowing what to do first when it comes to college admissions and financial aid
August 30, 2022
Which came first - applying for college admission or applying for financial aid?
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Three new FAFSA questions to answer - or not answer - this year
August 29, 2022
It's strictly voluntary this year.
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Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News
August 25, 2022
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Tip of the Week
August 24, 2022
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Mapping Your Future turns 26
August 19, 2022
When it comes to planning for the future, we could all use a little guidance.
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The importance of letting go in a world of many options
August 19, 2022
When it comes to planning for the future, students today are blessed with many career and educational opportunities.
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Updated list of Title IV schools published; schools reminded to keep information current
August 19, 2022
It may not be a who's who list, but nonetheless, the list is pretty important when it comes to federal financial aid.
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Let MappingXpress help with your new academic year documentation needs
August 17, 2022
With a new school year upon us, let MappingXpress help your office meet your document collection needs by streamlining the document collection process.
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Tip of the Week
August 17, 2022
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2022-23 Federal Student Aid Handbook Volume 2 now available
August 11, 2022
With the availability now of Volume 2 of the 2022-2023 Federal Student Aid Handbook, financial aid professionals should be prepared to start the new award year.
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Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News
August 11, 2022
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New EFC Formula Guide published
August 11, 2022
For anyone who's working in financial aid, the new 2023-24 EFC Formula Guide should be helpful but won't likely include many dramatic changes
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Reasons you should complete your college degree now
August 11, 2022
Completing a college degree has always a big life accomplishment, and rightfully so.
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Guide now available to prepare for 2023-24 financial aid season
August 10, 2022
In another sign that the 2023-24 financial aid application cycle will soon be underway, the Department of Education announced the posting of the 2023-2024 Summary of Changes for the Application Processing System Guide.
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Tip of the Week
August 10, 2022
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Early Awareness E-News
August 03, 2022
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Tip of the Week
August 03, 2022
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2023-24 FAFSA training available for financial aid professionals and others helping students and parents complete the FAFSA
August 02, 2022
With the cost of nearly everything increasing, financial aid to help students and families pay for college is more important than ever.
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Answering student and parent questions about the 2023-24 FAFSA
August 02, 2022
With family budgets under increasing pressure due to inflation, the need to reduce costs whenever possible is now a necessity for many students. Financial aid for college may be one way to reduce costs.
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August tasks for high school seniors
July 29, 2022
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Department of Education publishes 2023-24 Guides for financial aid professionals
July 28, 2022
With the release of the 2023-24 FAFSA just a couple of months away, the Department of Education has released a couple of guides to help financial aid professionals prepare for the new year.
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Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News
July 28, 2022
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Modern times
July 28, 2022
The bathtub decision was complicated.
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Updated training in FSA Training Center on August 1
July 28, 2022
Maybe you just need a refresher course or maybe you are new to financial aid.
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Brief outages planned for the IRS Data Retrieval Tool
July 27, 2022
Those students who waited to complete the FAFSA until tuition bills come due should note some upcoming, but brief, outages of the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.
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Four decisions high school juniors can think about now to get a jump on their senior year
July 27, 2022
Your senior year of high school could be a breeze.
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Tip of the Week
July 27, 2022
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New address for COD School Relations Center
July 26, 2022
In some news that hopefully falls in the category of "good-to-know" and not "need-to-know," the Department of Education announced a new address for a school relations center.
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How to master the art of being a good student
July 25, 2022
No one enters college with a plan to fail.
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New Department of Labor tool to inform career planning, programs, and policies
July 21, 2022
It may be beyond the scope of what most people needed to know when planning their career, but a new tool developed by the U.S. Department of Labor can help government agencies, educational institutions, and other organizations plan programs and policies to respond to workforce demands.
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Tip of the Week
July 20, 2022
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Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News
July 14, 2022
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Two steps to log in to StudentAid.gov
July 14, 2022
It's a process that is becoming more and more of a standard for online accounts.
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2023-24 verification guidance released
July 13, 2022
The 2022-23 FAFSA verification season may still be keeping you busy.
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Comments sought on proposed student loan regulatory changes
July 13, 2022
The Department of Education has proposed changes to several regulations impacting student loans and affordability issues and is seeking public comment on these proposed changes.<
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Federal Student Aid posts new user videos and issues reminder about 2021-22 training
July 13, 2022
Financial aid professionals, looking for just the right resources in the FSA Knowledge Center website, can get some help from some new training videos.
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New tool helps borrowers easily determine eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness
July 13, 2022
The first step in seeking PSLF for your student loan is determining if you have worked for a qualifying employer.
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Tip of the Week
July 13, 2022
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The good and bad of student loans
July 12, 2022
Student loans have gotten a lot of press in in the past few years and most of it has not been good.
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Things to consider or not consider when choosing between in-state or out-of-state college
July 12, 2022
Getting away from home – it's an exciting part of going to college for the first time.
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Tip of the Week
July 06, 2022
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Early Awareness E-News
July 01, 2022
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One question to ask before accepting any grant or scholarship
July 01, 2022
Grants and scholarships are the best kind of financial aid for college.
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July tasks for high school seniors
June 30, 2022
During your senior year, you finalized your college choice.
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Let MappingXpress boost the security of your verification process
June 30, 2022
Collecting documents from students and parents securely and efficiently is key to the verification process and is perhaps even more important with all that your office has been through with the pandemic.
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Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News
June 30, 2022
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New volume in the FSA Handbook series now available
June 30, 2022
The latest volume of the 2022-2023 Federal Student Aid Handbook has been released by the Department of Education.
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Offices closed for Independence Day
June 30, 2022
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Some students unable to correct or update FAFSA; Department offers workaround solutions
June 30, 2022
For financial aid to be awarded appropriately, students and parents must submit correct information on the FAFSA.
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Sudden retirement for student aid app
June 30, 2022
Applying for federal student aid?
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Tip of the Week
June 29, 2022
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New NSLDS Professional Access website to debut in late July
June 28, 2022
If you are planning on taking a few days off this summer, you may want to consider taking the much-needed break in late July.
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Tip of the Week
June 22, 2022
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Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News
June 16, 2022
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Two new questions proposed for the 2023-24 FAFSA
June 16, 2022
Although FAFSA simplification may make it easier for student and families to complete the form, they may have a couple of additional questions to answer.
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Interest rate information updated
June 15, 2022
Interest rates may not be on student loan borrowers' minds too much right now - especially with the temporary implementation of zero percent interest on federally held student loans.
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Speak your mind
June 15, 2022
The Department of Education announced last week that they will implement a Title IV Institutional Survey.
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Tip of the Week
June 15, 2022
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Public Service Loan Program to be administered by different servicer beginning summer 2022
June 14, 2022
Student loan borrowers who are participating in PSLF will have a new servicer soon.
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Reminder about Juneteenth National Independence Day holiday closings
June 13, 2022
The Department of Education's federal offices and many Federal Student Aid processors and contact centers will be closed Monday, June 20, to observe the Juneteenth National Independence Day federal holiday.
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Same word but different meanings - Dependent for FAFSA and for taxes
June 13, 2022
Not claimed as a dependent on your parent's taxes?