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The past 180 days of articles are displayed below.
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Writing an effective and successful essay webinar scheduled
October 22, 2020
The personal statement is a common requirement of applications to many U.S. colleges and universities.
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Tip of the Week
October 21, 2020
When it's more than just a job
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A worksheet to prepare for the 2021-22 FAFSA
October 15, 2020
Knowing all the questions on an upcoming exam certainly helps you prepare and chances are you are going to do better.
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Answers to your questions about returning Title IV funds under COVID
October 15, 2020
If you are among the many professionals with questions about how to follow regulations under COVID-19, the Department of Education has added some more answers to your questions to the FAQ on its website.
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Department of Education's myStudentAid app offers convenience, but no 2021-22 FAFSA yet
October 15, 2020
The myStudentAid App makes it easy to complete the FAFSA on the go.
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FAFSA webinar materials available
October 15, 2020
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Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News
October 15, 2020
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Mapping Your Future third-party servicer reminders
October 15, 2020
Completing forms and paperwork is a necessary part of a financial aid administrators job.
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MappingXpress could be the key to improving your document collection process
October 15, 2020
An easy, secure way for your office to handle verification documents is through MappingXpress.
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Register now for the all-online FSA Conference
October 15, 2020
There won't be that mad scramble for a hotel room this year as we plan for the FSA Conference.
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The easy way to complete the financial information on the FAFSA
October 15, 2020
If you would rather not go through financial documents or manually enter information on a form, then maybe you might be the kind of person who should use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool
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Tip of the Week
October 14, 2020
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FAFSA webinar recordings available
October 07, 2020
Completing the FAFSA is an important task for students and families.
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Tip of the Week
October 07, 2020
FAFSA webinar recordings available
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2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools named
October 01, 2020
The U.S. Department of Education last week recognized nearly 400 schools across the country as National Blue Ribbon Schools.
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5 questions to ask yourself before choosing a college
October 01, 2020
When I graduated from high school, I wanted to go to college.
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Borrowers reminded about COVID-19 relief via email
October 01, 2020
The Department of Education reminded all federal student loan borrowers last month via email that relief measures in place because of the pandemic have been extended until the end of the year.
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Deadline nearing to apply for participation in campus-based programs
October 01, 2020
The application deadline to participate in the 2021-22 campus-based financial aid programs is now more than a month away with the Department of Education extending the deadline to November 2.
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Department announced online and virtual workshop training, but space is limited
October 01, 2020
If the pandemic and the resulting cancellation of in-person training has left you behind on your training in the fundamentals of financial aid administration, now is your chance to catch up.
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Early Awareness E-News
October 01, 2020
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Guidance released to help schools prepare for 2021-22 verification
October 01, 2020
Financial aid offices can now prepare for the 2021-22 FAFSA verification season with the release of some suggested text last week by the Department of Education.
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Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News
October 01, 2020
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National student loan default rate continues to decline
October 01, 2020
The national student loan default rate dropped to 9.7 percent, according to figures released by the Department of Education this week.
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October tasks for high school seniors
October 01, 2020
During your senior year, you will finalize your college choice.
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One thing you must do before applying for financial aid
October 01, 2020
Before you can apply for financial aid to help pay for your education after high school, there is one step you must complete first.
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Session for high school students now on StudentAidPandemic.org
October 01, 2020
Planning for life after high school is challenging at any time.
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Students can now apply for financial aid for 2021-22
October 01, 2020
Students planning to pursue education beyond high school in the 2021-22 academic year can start applying for financial aid now.
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What is the SAR, why you need to carefully review it
October 01, 2020
After you complete the FAFSA, you will receive a SAR
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Tip of the Week
September 30, 2020
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Tip of the Week
September 23, 2020
FSA Plan
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Department of Education releases documents in preparation for 2021-22 FAFSA
September 17, 2020
It's starting to look a lot like FAFSA season.
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Department of Education releases test files to prepare for 2021-22
September 17, 2020
In another sign that 2020 is on the way out, the Department of Education has announced the materials to help institutions get ready for the 2021-22 application cycle.
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Federal financial aid website outages planned for the upcoming weekend
September 17, 2020
The Department of Education's planned website outages this weekend should not cause too much inconvenience for financial aid professionals.
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Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News
September 17, 2020
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Support Mapping Your Future while shopping online
September 17, 2020
While shopping online this fall, you can support Mapping Your Future by shopping through the AmazonSmile program.
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Top five early awareness tools to help students, parents
September 17, 2020
Mapping Your Future provides a variety of tools to help high school students prepare for college and careers.
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Tip of the Week
September 16, 2020
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Tip of the Week
September 09, 2020
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2021-22 FAFSA verification information included in Final Rules
September 03, 2020
If you want to get a jump on the 2021-22 FAFSA verification season, you can now get a look at what a school or an applicant may be required to verify.
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Department of Education issues alert
September 03, 2020
The Department of Education recently issued a technology security alert, warning of an active ransomware campaign targeting educational institutions.
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Got questions about Return to Title IV? Get the answers at the FSA Conference
September 03, 2020
Return of Title IV Funds is a subject matter that raises a lot of questions, and the Department of Education is actively soliciting those questions.
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Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News
September 03, 2020
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Offices closed on September 7 for Labor Day
September 03, 2020
Maybe because Labor Day falls as late as possible this year, my brain has tried to trick me more than once into believing that it is not September yet.
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Session for high school students now on StudentAidPandemic.org
September 03, 2020
Planning for life after high school is challenging at any time.
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Early Awareness E-News
September 02, 2020
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Let Guide to Life after High School help prepare your students this school year
September 02, 2020
By working Guide to Life after High School into your lesson plans this school year, you can help your students learn more about choosing a career, preparing for college, and student financial aid.
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Tip of the Week
September 02, 2020
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September tasks for college-bound high school seniors
September 01, 2020
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Apply now for Cooke Foundation College Scholarship
August 31, 2020
High school seniors should apply soon for a Cooke Foundation scholarship.
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Tip of the Week
August 26, 2020
A new perspective
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A step forward in simplifying the FAFSA
August 20, 2020
This year has been filled with complications, but applying for financial aid should be a little easier with one of the changes planned for the FAFSA.
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Department offers training on new Document Center
August 20, 2020
Since just about everything else has gone online this year, it's reasonable that the Department of Education would now require that statements and audits be submitted online.
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Let MappingXpress help with your new academic year documentation needs
August 20, 2020
With a school year upon us with the challenges of a pandemic, let MappingXpress help your office meet your document collection needs by streamlining the document collection process.
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Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News
August 20, 2020
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Mapping Your Future turns 24 this summer
August 20, 2020
Mapping Your Future turns 24 this year, and in celebrating our birthday, we want to thank the financial aid community for supporting us through the years.
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Tip of the Week
August 19, 2020
Gathering personal and professional bouquets
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Tip of the Week
August 12, 2020
Movie recommendations
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August tasks for high school seniors
August 06, 2020
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Early Awareness E-News
August 06, 2020
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Junior year, interrupted. . .
August 06, 2020
. . . and getting back on track during the senior year.
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Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News
August 06, 2020
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Four ways for students to succeed during a crisis
August 05, 2020
Students who accomplish goals and succeed during the pandemic demonstrate an important leadership skill - to persevere despite the crisis.
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Paying for college during a pandemic
August 05, 2020
Worries about how to pay for college have certainly intensified for many students during the pandemic.
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Tip of the Week
August 05, 2020
Substitution policy
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ACT working to add test centers, expand fall testing opportunities
August 04, 2020
Students who missed out on taking the ACT test due to interruptions caused by the pandemic may have some new opportunities to take the exam this fall.
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System updates to accommodate CARES Act waivers
August 04, 2020
While you were hopefully sleeping or enjoying a cup of coffee, the Department of Education made some updates this past Sunday to the COD system.
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Tip of the Week
July 29, 2020
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Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News
July 23, 2020
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Student eligibility volume of Student Aid Handbook addresses pandemic
July 23, 2020
Having just come off a year that defied what was known as normal operating procedures in financial aid, the Department of Education earlier this week released Volume 1 the 2020-2021 Student Aid Handbook.
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Updated CareerShip provides information on career paths
July 23, 2020
The ability to research careers is important to selecting a career path.
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Changes are coming - but not yet
July 22, 2020
If you're waiting for information about a new servicer for your student loans, you may want to take a break from hanging around your mailbox.
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Tip of the Week
July 22, 2020
2021-22 FAFSA webinars scheduled
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2021-22 FAFSA training available for financial aid professionals and others helping students and parents complete the FAFSA
July 21, 2020
Financial aid professionals or counselors helping students with the FAFSA or managing the verification process should be aware of changes to the 2021-22 FAFSA.
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Answering student and parent questions about the 2021-22 FAFSA
July 21, 2020
Although the future may seem uncertain right now, completing the FAFSA is one way students can keep their options open.
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Department to only accept electronic copies of statements and audits
July 21, 2020
In a move that's bound to save paper and ink, the Department of Education has announced that as of next month it will no longer accept hard copies of financial statements and compliance audits.
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Tip of the Week
July 15, 2020
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Collecting documents securely from your students during the pandemic
July 09, 2020
Back to school in 2020 will look different from years past.
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Lower Direct Loan interest rates in place for the 2020-21 academic year
July 09, 2020
Interest rates on federal student loans will decrease again for the next academic year.
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Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News
July 09, 2020
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Tips for making the most of online conferences
July 09, 2020
My suitcase, which usually by this time of the summer would have had several flights and a few road trips, stands in the corner with dust gathering and cobwebs forming around it.
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Tip of the Week
July 08, 2020
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Department of Education provides new tools for students to manage student loan debt
July 01, 2020
Some recent improvements to the StudentAid.gov website will help students manage their student loan debt and determine their eligibility for student loan forgiveness.
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An important trait needed by today's high school and college students
July 01, 2020
If we ever needed any proof that the future is uncertain, 2020 has at least given us that evidence.
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Displaying your accomplishments
July 01, 2020
Summer 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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Early Awareness E-News
July 01, 2020
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July tasks for high school seniors
July 01, 2020
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The impact of COVID-19 on financial aid professionals webinar scheduled
July 01, 2020
Join us for a conversation among financial aid professionals, in which we will explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on financial aid offices and how they are addressing their concerns.
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Tip of the Week
July 01, 2020
Impact of COVID-19 webinar scheduled
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Tips to help pay the cost of college
July 01, 2020
According to the U.S. Department of Education National Center for Education Statistics, the average in-state cost of attendance at a four-year public institution in the 2018-19 year was $24,900.
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Direct Loan fees for 2020-21 announced
June 25, 2020
The Department of Education this week announced the new fees to be charged to borrowers under the Direct Loan Program. According to a June 23 Electronic Announcement.
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Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News
June 25, 2020
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Updates continue on StudentAidPandemic.org site
June 25, 2020
It is challenging to keep up with the updates to the information for current college students and student loan borrowers.
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Your EFC number - what it is and what it isn't
June 25, 2020
It isn't a magic number, but your EFC is an important number when it comes to determining the amount of financial aid you are eligible to receive at the school you plan to attend after high school.
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Federal offices to close on July 3
June 24, 2020
If you are working on Friday, July 3, it should be a good day to get caught up on answering your emails or on organizing your office.
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Mapping Your Future survey reveals financial aid professionals under stress due to the pandemic
June 23, 2020
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Three things you must do to continue receiving financial aid for your education
June 23, 2020
Students who establish their initial eligibility for federal financial aid by completing all the necessary forms aren't finished - at least when it comes to making sure they continue receiving financial aid.
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Tip of the Week
June 23, 2020
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Helping borrowers know their student loan interest rates
June 18, 2020
Interest rates may not be on student loan borrowers' minds too much right now.
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Tip of the Week
June 17, 2020
Helping borrowers know their interest rates
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It's June 2020 and all is quiet on the IFAP website
June 11, 2020
If you haven't checked IFAP lately, you might not have missed a lot.
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Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News
June 11, 2020
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No time like the present to sign up for MappingXpress
June 11, 2020
Many schools are using this unusual time to strengthen their internal processes, such as the process of collecting needed documents from students.
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Taxpayers will soon be able to file amended tax returns electronically
June 11, 2020
If you've ever had to tell a student or parent that their income tax return must be amended in order to receive financial aid, you will soon be able tell them they can do that electronically.
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NCES report reveals relationship between education and earnings
June 10, 2020
Although it's still unclear how the pandemic will impact college attendance, the enrollment rate had been on an upward trend and the correlation between education level and earnings continues to be strong, according to a recently released federal report.
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Scammers prey on college students during COVID-19 crisis
June 10, 2020
As if students haven't had enough challenges this year due to the COVID-19 crisis, now scammers are targeting them in a new phishing scheme.
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Tip of the Week
June 10, 2020
The impact of the pandemic
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Mapping Your Future needs your input on impact of COVID-19
June 03, 2020
In order to address some of the issues impacting financial aid offices, Mapping Your Future needs your response to a Financial Aid Professionals COVID-19 Survey.
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Tip of the Week
June 03, 2020
Seeking your input
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Five popular Mapping Your Future resources for counselors and their students
June 02, 2020
Mapping Your Future offers several resources to help you and your students with planning, paying, and preparing for college.
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Starting to prepare for the fall semester
June 01, 2020
Now that May is over, it's time to think about the fall semester.
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Early Awareness E-News
June 01, 2020
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It's more important than ever to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
June 01, 2020
And here's why. . .
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June tasks for high school seniors
June 01, 2020
During your senior year, you finalized your college choice.
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The action you should take now if you need more financial aid
June 01, 2020
A lot of things have changed in our world during the past year, and your financial situation may be very different than when you applied for financial aid.
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This type of college funding should be your priority
June 01, 2020
The most important funding for college is the money that you won't have to repay.
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CDC Stakeholder Call: Institutes of Higher Education scheduled for May 29
May 28, 2020
The U.S. Department of Education issued an invitation for higher education leaders to join a May 29 stakeholder call.
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Drop in interest rates on student loans
May 28, 2020
Interest rates on federal student loans will decrease again for the next academic year.
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Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News
May 28, 2020
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New call center hours for COD School Relations Center
May 28, 2020
For those financial aid professionals who like burning the midnight oil, reaching some of the school relations staff at the Department of Education won't be possible in those late-night hours.
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Now on the stands - new Department of Education guide
May 28, 2020
If you're looking for some new reading material, the new Application and Verification Guide is hot off the press.
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Online Counseling records provide valuable information
May 28, 2020
The purpose of student loan counseling requirements is two-fold: to educate borrowers and to receive updated contact information for the borrower.
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Tip of the Week
May 27, 2020
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Town Hall Meeting on FAFSA Completion webinar recording available
May 27, 2020
Financial aid itself may not have changed much in recent months, but the circumstances that cause students to need financial assistance has changed.
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Tip of the Week
May 20, 2020
Memorial Day 2020
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Common FAFSA questions addressed in podcasts
May 14, 2020
Mapping Your Future worked with the College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) and financial aid professionals to develop a series of podcasts to help students and parents preparing for higher education.
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Due date in July for Direct Loan Program year closeout
May 14, 2020
Although a lot of deadlines have been adjusted, the due date for the closeout of the 2018-19 Direct Loan program year has not.
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Let MappingXpress boost the security of your verification process
May 14, 2020
Collecting documents from students and parents securely and efficiently is key to the verification process.
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Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News
May 14, 2020
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Updates continue on StudentAidPandemic.org site
May 14, 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has changed so many aspects of our lives, and it is challenging to keep up with the updates to the information for current college students and student loan borrowers.
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Tip of the Week
May 13, 2020
Tested
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Tip of the Week
May 06, 2020
Future focus
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Early Awareness E-News
May 04, 2020
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Know your options to prepare for loan repayment
May 04, 2020
When it comes to borrowing money for college, it's wise to understand repayment requirements and options.
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Knowing what to pack for college
May 04, 2020
If your college plans to re-open dorms for the fall semester, you can start preparing now by knowing what you plan to take with you.
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May tasks for high school seniors
May 02, 2020
Your senior year might looks different than you thought it might as it winds down, don't let yourself become distracted.
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The ABCs of being a good student
May 02, 2020
The ABCs aren't just for younger students.
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Changes to default rate and work study regulatory requirements
April 30, 2020
Not that you've probably had any time to think about your school's default rates, but, in any case, you can now put off thinking about it for a little while.
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Emergency grants guidance
April 30, 2020
Emergency grants are critical right now as some college students struggle with the crisis while trying to pursue their education.
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Making the most of a virtual college tour
April 30, 2020
It may not be what you had planned, but a virtual campus tour can help you choose the right college to accomplish your educational goals.
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Mapping Your Future Higher Ed News
April 30, 2020
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Mapping Your Future offers timely resources
April 30, 2020
Recent weeks have underscored the need for online processes and resources.
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Department releases updated Master Promissory Note
April 29, 2020
It may look a lot like last year's model, but the Department of Education recently released a revised Master Promissory Note.
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Important information you can get from the College Scorecard
April 29, 2020
. . .and why you should care.
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Tip of the Week
April 29, 2020
New normal