By Marlene Seeklander What exactly is the Student Aid Index (SAI) calculated by the FAFSA? While the SAI isn’t a new concept – it replaced the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) starting with the 2024-25 FAFSA – it may cause some confusion for students and families. The SAI, based on a range from –1500 to 999999, is […]
Student Aid Index – A deeper dive Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Student loans are an investment in your future. When you apply for financial aid and receive a financial aid offer from the college financial aid office, you may be offered student loans. A student loan is money you borrow and must repay with interest. Student loans can come from a variety of sources:
Understanding student loans Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Creating a StudentAid.gov account or FSA ID shouldn’t be an obstacle for students and contributors when completing the FAFSA. The FSA ID is a “key first step” to completing the FAFSA, and Federal Student Aid (FSA) has made updates over the past few years to make the process easier. Aaron Lemon-Strauss, Executive Director
Upcoming changes to the FSA ID account process Read More »
By Catherine Mueller Despite the government shutdown, students and parents can complete the FAFSA and financial aid will be processed on the regular schedule according to the U.S. Department of Education. The Department announced on October 1 that despite the lapse in appropriations to fund the federal government, there will be minimal impact on students, borrowers,
Students and parents can complete FAFSA during federal shutdown Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Students have been able to complete the 2026-27 FAFSA since September 24, in advance of the official October 1 release date. Prior to completing the FAFSA, students and parents can go ahead and set up their account at StudentAid.gov, also known as creating an FSA ID. An FSA ID is the username and
Five tips to complete this important FAFSA first step Read More »
By Catherine Mueller Deciding what you want to do for the rest of your life can be rather scary. Choosing a career can raise many “what ifs.” For example: Going to college, deciding on a career, and choosing the right school can be overwhelming. The good news is that if you are thinking about the “what
Getting rid of the “what-ifs” when choosing a career Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Taking the ACT is a big deal for many students, but you can reduce some of the stress on test day. To do your best on ACT test day, you may want to follow these tips: ACT also provides some information on what you need to know for test day on their website
Be prepared for the ACT test day Read More »
By Marlene Seeklander Students interested in taking the December ACT test should register soon to avoid late fees. The regular registration deadline is Friday, November 7 for the December 13 ACT test. After November 7, students can register for the December test up until November 24 but will have to pay a late fee with their
Registration deadline approaching for December ACT test date Read More »
By Catherine Mueller It’s a critical step and one that sometimes can be fraught with emotion. Determining which parent contributes to the FAFSA can create a challenge for students. And, for some, it’s better to determine which parent should contribute to the FAFSA before sitting down to complete the application. It will relieve some stress for
Who is my FAFSA parent? Read More »
By Catherine Mueller Students can now practice for the ACT with materials that match the latest version of the test. ACT recently released updated practice materials for the enhanced version of its test. The ACT Practice Resources Guide provides resources for counselors to prepare students for the test. The guide includes a full-length online practice test
ACT releases full-length practice version of enhanced test Read More »
