Newsroom - Mapping Your Future

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More guidance on resolving conflicting information released

Department of Education, Newsroom / By Marlene Seeklander

By Beth Ziehmer A June 17 Electronic Announcement clarified some instances when schools should resolve conflicting information. Examples of these instances include questions regarding a student’s high school diploma, academic progress, enrollment, and tax filing status. The conflicting information may involve another office at your school. If the school has conflicting information or if you have any […]

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Federal offices to close on July 4

Department of Education, Mapping Your Future features, Newsroom / By Marlene Seeklander

By Beth Ziehmer Independence Day falls on a Thursday this year. According to the Department’s June 18 Electronic Announcement, federal offices as well as the Federal Student Aid processors and contact centers will be closed on Thursday, July 4 to observe the Independence Day federal holiday. The FAFSA Processing System will accept 2024-25 data on July

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Unique perspective female student lying down on the floor while studying with laptop and books

Important questions to ask yourself before applying for a scholarship

Newsroom, Mapping Your Future features, Popular / By Marlene Seeklander

By Catherine Mueller Students should apply for as many scholarships as possible. That’s good advice, but with that advice in mind, students should prioritize some scholarships and maybe avoid some scholarships altogether. In general, you should apply for those scholarships that are a good fit and not apply to any scholarships that seem questionable. To determine

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Practice budgeting skills with summer job earnings

Newsroom, Financial Literacy, Latest / By mappingyourfuturebeth

By Catherine Mueller A summer job offers many benefits for students in addition to the money earned. Of course, there’s the opportunity for work experience, but students can also practice some important life skills with their summer jobs. One of those life skills is managing a budget (sometimes called a spending plan) for those summer earnings.

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Dark blue folder with FAFSA Free Application for Federal Student Aid on the front

Updated “preview” presentation now available for the current FAFSA

Department of Education, FAFSA resources, Newsroom, Popular / By mappingyourfuturebeth

By Catherine Mueller At first, it seems a little unusual – receiving an update to a FAFSA preview presentation when the 2024-25 FAFSA was released almost 6 months ago. But, then again, this year has been anything but typical. In a June 12 update to an Electronic Announcement issued last year, the Department of Education said

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Department updates guide to monitor transfer students and their financial aid history

Department of Education, Newsroom / By mappingyourfuturebeth

By Catherine Mueller It may be an indication of the rapid change within our industry. The Department of Education last week announced the availability of the updated NSLDS Transfer Student Monitoring & Financial Aid History User Guide and Record Layouts. The last version was just issued late in 2023. The Department said this updated manual, dated

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Tip of the Week – June 12, 2024

Newsletters, Newsroom, Tip of the Week / By mappingyourfuturebeth

Tip of the Week A fitting tribute My husband’s father passed away suddenly and much too soon. A recent college graduate just about ready to embark on his own life, my husband faced the task of cleaning out his dad’s university office. In the midst of his grief, he went through the old files and

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Mapping Your Future releases new logo

Mapping Your Future features, Newsroom, Popular / By mappingyourfuturebeth

By Catherine Mueller Just like students receiving admission into a college that sets them on a path to a successful future, that’s what it was for Mapping Your Future when we began as a project about 27 years ago. Through the years, we’ve seen a lot of changes both in the industry and in our own

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Department working to resolve NSLDS display issue

Department of Education, Newsroom / By mappingyourfuturebeth

By Catherine Mueller Financial aid professionals may have noticed incorrect loan information being displayed in NSLDS for some borrowers. In a June 5 Electronic Announcement, the Department of Education said it has identified an issue on the Loan Summary page of the NSLDS Professional Access website that results in the display of incorrect loan details. “Our initial

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Photo of the US Capitol with a blue sky and a few clouds in the background

Department of Education wants your opinion

Department of Education, Newsroom / By mappingyourfuturebeth

By Catherine Mueller It may be a bold but necessary request in what has been a tumultuous year for federal financial aid. The Department of Education will be asking for your thoughts on how easy it is to work with Federal Student Aid. In a June 4 Electronic Announcement, the Department said an independent vendor will conduct

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