College References
Ways to Assess what a College is really Like and Questions to Ask for a Successful College Visit
Get the most out of your college visit by making sure you ....
Dorm Life, Living away from home
Dorm Life, Living away from home
Don't forget an umbrella! What you really need for dorm life.
Financial Aid Information
FAFSA Simplification Act effective July 1, 2023 for the 2023-2024 school year.
- The number of questions will be reduced from 108 to 36.
- The term Expected Family Contribution (EFC) will be replaced with the Student Aid Index (SAI).
- If a dependent student's parents are divorced or separated and not remarried, the parent who provides more financial support to the student will be responsible for completing the FAFSA. "The parent you lived with more during the past 12 months" will no longer be used as the determining factor for which parent should complete the FAFSA.
- Colleges will be required to disclose all elements of the cost of attendance on their website.
- Income Protection Allowance will be increased, allowing a greater amount of income to be sheltered from the financial aid formula.
- The FAFSA will no longer divide the family assessment by the number of family members in college. This change will significantly reduce the amount of financial aid available for multiple family members enrolled at the same time.
- The FAFSA will include a question about the applicant's race or ethnicity.
- Charging a fee to complete the FAFSA will be prohibited.
- Male applicants will no longer be required to have registered with Selective Service.
- Applicants convicted of the sale or possession of a controlled substance will no longer be ineligible for federal student aid.
- Several changes to Professional Judgment and special circumstances, including prohibiting financial aid administrators from denying all financial aid appeals.
2023-2024 Common Application Essay Prompts
The Common Application has released the 2022-2023 essay prompts. The prompts are the same as last year. The optional COVID-19 question will also remain the same in the Additional Information section.
- Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
- The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
- Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
- Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
- Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
- Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
- Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
