Tip of the Week

Tip of the Week Borrowing Parent Loans – 2026 and beyond It’s hard to find an equilibrium. When it comes to Parent PLUS Loans, the ability of parents to borrow up to the cost of attendance minus any financial aid, meant students could attend any college where they were admitted. But it also meant parents […]

Tip of the Week Something to cry over Keep the tissue box handy. Sure, you have it there for the students who come in your office. But you might have been the one needing it this summer as news broke about all the changes that will impact higher education. So, if this summer (or maybe

Tip of the Week Summary of Budget Reconciliation Changes for Students and Parents When it comes to paying for college, many students and parents face uncertainty. Will there be enough money and is this college the right decision? Along with those questions, throw in some future changes with the budget reconciliation bill and it could

Tip of the Week Fireworks and financial aid Working in financial aid – or in some aspect of education – can sometimes feel like a fireworks display. Sometimes exciting and sometimes scary. There are days when a co-worker or student says or does something that makes you feel like you’re on top of the world

Tip of the Week More steps toward simplification planned for the 2026-27 FAFSA Although many of the major stumbling blocks with the simplified FAFSA have been overcome, there have been a few remaining issues for students and parents. The Department of Education has now announced plans to fix two of those issues involving the identity

Tip of the Week Updated interest rate information available on Mapping Your Future website July is just around the corner and that means new student loan borrowers will see slightly lower interest rates starting July 1. To help your students know the upcoming July 1 interest rates, Mapping Your Future staff recently updated several references

Tip of the Week It’s a juggling act Watching someone juggle is fascinating. Recently, I attended an event where the presenter juggled during a portion of his presentation. I was in awe as to how he maintained his concentration in keeping the various objects in the air while talking. Obviously, he had lots of practice.

Tip of the Week Favorite season of the year We all may have a favorite season of the year. For me, it has always been summer. I enjoy the warm weather, longer days, sitting outside and reading a book, walking outside, pampering the flowers that adorn the front of my house, and watching the sun

Tip of the Week What are you going to do this summer? That simple sentence may cause financial aid professionals to tense up. When I worked in a financial aid office, that was a question often asked by students when they stopped by our office at the end of the spring semester to hand in

Tip of the Week No greater love It was an act of sacrifice and service so great we should never forget. And yet, I am embarrassed to say, I had never heard about it until just the other day. It was 80 years ago this week during World War II when four Army chaplains all