The CSS Profile helps some colleges award institutional aid by asking for details the FAFSA may not collect.
Category - Guidance
Whether you’re a high school student looking for tips on how to balance school, extracurricular activities, and a social life, or a college student looking for strategies to stay organized and motivated, our student guidance category has something for you. We hope that our articles and resources will help you to achieve your full potential and reach your goals.
Akshay Dinesh
How Capitalized Interest Makes Student Loans Grow
Capitalized interest turns unpaid interest into principal, which can make student loan balances and future interest grow faster.
How Interleaving Practice Helps Students Learn More Than Repetition
Interleaving practice mixes related skills so students learn when to use each method, not just how to repeat one routine.
How Real-Time FAFSA Results Change the Financial Aid Timeline
Real-time FAFSA results can help students spot aid estimates, errors, and next steps sooner, but schools still finalize awards.
How Parent PLUS Loan Limits Change College Borrowing
New Parent PLUS limits can change how families compare college costs, aid gaps, repayment, and private-loan risks before borrowing.
How to Check Whether an Online Source Is Reliable
Learn how lateral reading, source checking, and citation habits help students decide whether an online source is reliable.
How to Write a Letter of Continued Interest After a College Waitlist
A strong waitlist letter is brief, specific, and realistic. Learn what to include, what to avoid, and how to protect your college options.
What Workforce Pell Means for Short-Term Career Training
Workforce Pell may help eligible students use Pell Grants for approved short-term career training, but program approval matters.
How Federal Student Loan Interest Rates Change Each Year
Federal student loan rates reset each July for new loans, but each loan keeps its rate for life after it is disbursed.
How Summer EBT Helps When School Meals Pause
Summer EBT, also called SUN Bucks, gives eligible families grocery benefits when school meals pause for summer break.
How FAFSA Dependency Status Changes Financial Aid
FAFSA dependency status decides whose information goes on the form, which can change aid calculations and next steps.
What Happens to Leftover 529 Money After College?
Leftover 529 money can still be useful after college through more education, loans, a beneficiary change, or a Roth IRA rollover.
How to Find a Strong Common App Personal Essay Topic
A strong Common App essay topic helps a real story show growth, reflection, and a clearer sense of who you are.
How to Spot a Fake Summer Job Before You Apply
Fake summer jobs can steal money or personal details. Learn the warning signs before you accept an offer or share forms.
What Summer Melt Means Before College Actually Starts
Summer melt happens after acceptance, when missed forms, aid steps, or deadlines keep students from enrolling in college.
