Author name: mappingyourfuturecathy

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The bottom line on financial aid offers

By Catherine Mueller Choosing a college is an important financial decision. After all, you are making an investment in your future. Therefore, it’s important to carefully review all the financial aid offers you receive from the colleges you’ve listed on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Bottom line, you want to make sure the

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Upcoming webinar to prepare schools for new reporting requirements

Identifying which students should be included in the new financial value and gainful employment reporting requirements is the purpose of some new reports now available in the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). In an April 23 Dear Colleague Letter, the Department said it will host a webinar to train institutions on using the reports to

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Six things you should check on your FAFSA Submission Summary

After successfully completing your FAFSA, you should celebrate your accomplishment. However, don’t celebrate so much that you forget you will have other tasks to complete. One of those tasks is to review your FAFSA Submission Summary. One to three days after a student submits a 2024-25 FAFSA (and provided a valid email address), the student

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Department issues guidelines for awarding aid based on student FAFSA record with errors

By Catherine Mueller Financial aid professionals have some leeway in awarding financial aid when it comes to using student records – as long as some guidelines are met. In a April 11 Electronic Announcement (EA), the Department of Education provided additional information about how to treat Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs) affected by errors when making financial aid offers and

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US Department of Education building

Close your week with the latest in FAFSA news from the Department of Education

By Catherine Mueller It’s probably becoming a regular part of your Friday afternoons, but just in case you need a reminder – the Department of Education will provide its weekly update for financial aid professionals again this week. The Department invites professionals to join them at 3 p.m. Eastern on Friday, April 12, for a 2024-25 FAFSA:

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US Department of Education building

Department reminds financial aid professionals where to find FAFSA Simplification updates

By Catherine Mueller Just in case you were afraid to ask, there’s a place where you can find everything you always wanted to know about FAFSA Simplification. In a March 22 Electronic Announcement, the Department of Education reminded financial aid professionals about the FAFSA Simplification Information area. In the announcement, the Department said the FAFSA Simplification Information area “has

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Book your time – but no travel – for the 2024 FSA Conference

By Catherine Mueller Once again, it’s time to book your virtual space (in other words, your calendar) for the 2024 Federal Student Aid Training Conference for Financial Aid Professionals. In a March 22 Electronic Announcement, the Department said the FSA conference will be held virtually, December 3-6, 2024. In the announcement, the Department said they weighed the

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Deadline nearing to apply for waiver of Federal Work Study community service requirements

By Catherine Mueller Institutions who won’t be able to meet the community service requirements of the Federal Work Study program have until next month to request a waiver. In a March 12 Electronic Announcement, the Department of Education said April 22 is the deadline for an institution to submit a waiver request for the 2024-25 Federal Work

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