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PLEASE I implore you to share this story why condeming Israel is Hamas’ MO.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/15/opinion/hamas-war-israel-gaza.html?unlocked_article_code=tndMkXq5jLn_xlsJjal1sD1XwAcZ_Uzm2e5SXVYO-wyrmxsH2tDcdkCsFkXFZzd_xj7vdzH1TC66wRxorZKPJtkxm6QMskQEmmElxARBVM9sqJC5lBTF4j6pyT4T3nwiZgNnTQYrtMKLbg8whSdRpCXd5D6P23AEoURtgofa9RcOAZ4oGjiOitwYUO4cbg55yRLHKa6b3qwuSv8a5hRhdvMIHEYvnsJBLgFhcQPxaCQ_pgmUS2FtTS5D04AFrt3OrnI4l0jDN9ppY1h0AtN9A6UDB_XiSoWS58NLGBQy0OhgjZuALtGqhPCOJJ3WEQP2w68adbrBPNoFaXapYn1f&smid=url-share

Let's face it, college is tough. It's a time when signs of depression and mental illness often arise — even if your child has not previously exhibited symptoms. Ignoring signs of mental health issues can be disastrous. According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, anxiety is the top presenting concern (41.6%), followed by depression (36.4%) and relationship problems (35.8%). Find resources here:

FAFSAssist Newsletter No More Pencils, No More Books, No More Teacher's Dirty Looks! July is the month of picnics, fireworks, lazy days at the beach-- and definitely not school.

Over the past decade, there have been many shifts in the way students learn – and prepare for class. One important change is the length of time they spend on studying. According to an The American Interest article, college students are studying 40% less than they did 50 years ago — even less than they did in high school. This begs the question whether parents and students are getting the most value from higher education.

A student demonstrating certain traits, like curiosity, is likely going to succeed anywhere, but if they go to a college where they are surrounded by students like themselves, they will generally thrive. That kind of education is worth any tuition you can afford. Read more higher ed must-knows here:

FAFSAssist Newsletter No More Pencils, No More Books, No More Teacher's Dirty Looks! July is the month of picnics, fireworks, lazy days at the beach-- and definitely not school.

Financial Aid Now’s CEO Stuart Siegel was interviewed for a recent Bankrate article about the history of student loans. He said, “With all the changes going on with the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSFL) program, it’s possible that you may qualify for federal student loan forgiveness, or at least move closer toward it if you’ve worked at a nonprofit organization, government agency or another qualifying employer.” Read the story here:

The Complete History Of Student Loans | Bankrate From the 1940s to now, student loans have evolved substantially.

While being interviewed on the Everybody’s Talkin’ Money podcast, our CEO Stuart Siegel states, “When it comes to money, people tend to procrastinate. When some parents first get the FAFSA form, they are already in a position of fear. Take time a year or six months earlier to go over the form, think about it, and ask for professional help. Preparing in advance can go a long way.”



To learn how to avoid the top five college financial aid mistakes, click here:

https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9yc3MuYXJ0MTkuY29tL21pbGxlbm5pYWwtbW9uZXk/episode/Z2lkOi8vYXJ0MTktZXBpc29kZS1sb2NhdG9yL1YwL0ZnSWtsdzJubGdseFh6eU1TYlFRa1JLamFxeXBHVmxRei1WcjNSMHJLNFE?hl=en&ved=2ahUKEwj939fn7J74AhXemIQIHWKbCvUQieUEegQIAhAI&ep=6

According to a recent poll, more than half of Americans support President Biden's reported plan for student loan forgiveness. However, an overwhelming majority say making college more affordable should be an even bigger priority.



FAFSAssist's CEO Stuart Siegel states, “As it is still unclear what the Biden Administration will be able to do about student loan forgiveness, the problem for current and future students paying for college remains. Unless debt and affordability are both dealt with at the same time the situation will continue and get worse. Because half of the nation’s student debt includes accumulated interest, I pose a solution that I believe would be a fair compromise for both political parties: Eliminate the accumulated interest and future interest from all student loans.”

Learn more here:

https://www.npr.org/2022/06/17/1104920545/poll-student-loan-forgiveness

Did you know students miss out on nearly $25 billion in financial aid annually? FAFSAssist's Stuart Siegel was recently a guest on the Everybody's Talkin' Money podcast with Host Shannah Game discussing the importance of student loans, navigating the college aid process, and all things FAFSA.

Stuart says, "Be very careful, you only get one shot at this, and colleges will not come back and correct it (FAFSA forms) for you, so you're going to live with whatever you get." Listen to the podcast here and learn how to get more in financial aid: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9yc3MuYXJ0MTkuY29tL21pbGxlbm5pYWwtbW9uZXk/episode/Z2lkOi8vYXJ0MTktZXBpc29kZS1sb2NhdG9yL1YwL0ZnSWtsdzJubGdseFh6eU1TYlFRa1JLamFxeXBHVmxRei1WcjNSMHJLNFE?hl=en&ved=2ahUKEwj939fn7J74AhXemIQIHWKbCvUQieUEegQIAhAI&ep=6

FAFSAssist's Stuart Siegel joined Television recently to discuss states now offering students free college tuition, based on income rather than grades. Many did not capitalize on this opportunity as there are currently over a million fewer current undergraduates than there were in 2020.

"You see that kind of money left on the table. Kids not taking advantage of getting a college education, which is needed for three-quarters of the jobs in the country, is quite disappointing," Stuart said. "If it's free, will the students take advantage of it and actually get to class and earn a degree? Is that money going to be well spent?" Learn more here:
https://www.ntd.com/free-college-grades-optional-does-it-work_785904.html

Stuart Siegel, president of FASFAssist, recently commented on the Biden administration’s cancelation of $5.8B in student loans and the students who were taken advantage of by a fraudulent organization, Corinthian Colleges, Inc. Stuart states, “If you go to a school that proves to be bogus, you should not have to pay your student loans.”

Learn more here about student loan forgiveness at News. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOPHK3naT1I

Have you ever wondered if Financial Aid is available for students attending summer classes? According to FAFSAssist President Stuart Siegel, some schools offer it! First, the student should contact financial services at their institution. The college will then determine if the student has any unused aid from the academic year just ending. If there are no funds available from the spring semester, the college will look at the following year to determine whether dollars can be allocated for courses over the summer. For students from low-income families, the Pell Grant can be used to cover the cost of some of these credits. Should aid not be available, students will need to look at other free money sources including state funds (grants), especially for summer terms. There are also scholarships that cover summer tuition but those must be researched and applied for early. Learn more at fafsassist.com.

Did you know that more students than ever before have applied to highly competitive colleges, causing the lowest acceptance rates in history? To help your student increase their chances of acceptance, consider the following:
1. Cast a wide net of colleges and universities
2. Plan on your child taking the ACT or SAT and prepare accordingly
3. Expect applications to continue to rise and admission rates to drop
4. Consider adding other options (state schools and out-of-state schools that might have a tuition exchange with your state).
Read more about college selection here:

FAFSAssist Newsletter In addition, high school seniors have already accepted their financial aid awards, answered their roommate preference surveys, submitted housing and health forms, and taken whatever subject placement tests their college requires. They should also have submitted a copy of their final transcripts.

Today is Memorial Day, but did you know that it was originally called Decoration Day? It was first recognized in 1868 to honor fallen Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington Cemetery. It was not until 1971 that it became a federal holiday. Read more about its history here: https://www.pbs.org/national-memorial-day-concert/memorial-day/history/ #:~:text=It%20was%20first%20widely%20observed,national%20commemoration%2C%20former%20Union%20Gen