The start of yet another college/training school year is upon us. If you’re one of the many students who have completed your Free Application for Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA) and are anxiously waiting for your federal financial aid funds to be transferred to your student account (to help pay your tuition, fees and books), here’s a little advice – Be patient. There are a few things to keep in mind to ensure your financial aid is moving. First, know that it is your college or training school t...

One of the most common questions I hear at financial aid offices is, “have you completed your FAFSA?” Most students, this time of year, have. However, there may be other requirements that you need to complete before receiving your federal loans. Your financial aid is sent to the institution, but before they disburse the funds, you may need to sign the master promissory note and complete entrance loan counseling. Here’s what you need to know:

Students are being affected by “Summer Melt”. No, we aren’t talking about the record-high temperatures we have been having in Alaska. This is happening across the nation. Students who graduate from high school in May/June with postsecondary plans are not entering the doors to classes and training programs in the August/September.

Before you can attend any classes, you have to schedule them. Here are some tips to maximizing your time at school.

We can all agree that college is not cheap. Figuring out a clear plan for you to achieve the goal of finishing takes a great deal of time, energy, and finances. Choosing how to invest your money is something to seriously think about, and above all—life happens. With all the people who start college or career training, more than half do not finish. We encourage those who haven’t finished to go ahead and try again. Here’s why:

Adapting to college life can be challenging. To make the best of your experience rely on the “go-to” people who can be a valuable resource to you. There will be a number of people you will meet throughout your college life but a few key people to keep in mind as you start your journey include the following:

My sister, who is 30 years old and a mother of two, decided to go back to college to finish her degree in Human Resources – Yay, sister! After the excitement subsided, the reality of life sunk in and it came time to review resources available to assist her with the college journey. First, we talked about financial aid options, and then we went over admissions. After all that, she had questions about other resources that could assist with childcare. That made me think, every postsecondary stud...

It's finally time to say your goodbyes and head to your new “home” for the next x-amount of years. You get there and the homesickness settles in. Homesickness can make the experience of moving away nerve-wracking, but it may not be home you miss, but rather what is familiar to you. I have a few tips to help you overcome homesickness:

Congratulations, parents— you survived the teen years and now your high school graduate is headed to college. The first year of transition is the hardest. There’s still much to be done (as if the entire college planning process, ACT’s, SAT’s etc. weren’t enough.) But keep in mind, you’re in the home stretch and it’s not as if you are dropping your firstborn off in a basket out in the big RW (Real World.) You are just taking them to college. Never the less, to help with the anxiety here is...

If you have applied to a university or program, you may find that they recommend attending new student orientation. Orientations may vary from a couple of hours to a full two-day commitment. Here are the top five reasons to attend an orientation event: