Author: Next Indiana

Our final tip for applying to college is Apply Early. Keep a calendar with application deadlines clearly marked. Some schools have strict deadlines for their applications, while others will accept applications year-round. Make sure you know the deadlines for each school you’re applying to, and check to see if there are deadlines you have to apply by in order to qualify for financial aid. And remember, while you are on the Next Indiana website, don’t forget to check-out the 2020-21 issue of Next Indiana for more information on Career, College and Cost and DEFINITELY enter to win the $1,500 scholarship!

Is this your first time filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form? The first thing you need to do is create a FSA ID. You will need to create a username and password, Your password will be case-sensitive. If you already have a FSA ID, but forgot your username or password, these links will help. Once you have your ID, you are ready to fill out the form. The FAFSA form is also available as a mobile app for both iOS — App Store or Android — Google Play. You can also check-out Next Indiana and enter to win…

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form the federal government, states, colleges and other organizations use to award financial aid for college or grad school. The FASFA application asks questions about a student’s personal and familial financial circumstances in order to determine how much they can pay for college. This is not a short form. Be prepared to spend almost an hour to complete the form completely. The form is detailed, and mistakes can be costly. Avoid frustration by being prepared. Make sure to verify your FAFSA deadline and don’t…

It is time! The 2020–21 FAFSA form will be available beginning October 1, 2020 and even though the deadline is April 15, 2021, you should fill out your form as soon as possible on or after October 1. Head to the official government site, fafsa.gov today. DO NOT WAIT! Also, don’t forget to enter to win a $1,500 scholarship from Next Indiana.

Some schools require more than transcripts and test scores. You may need to write a personal essay or include some other writing or portfolio sample. So, our 4th tip is Know the Application Requirements. While you are on the Next Indiana website, don’t forget to check-out the 2020-21 issue of Next Indiana for more information on Career, College and Cost and DEFINITELY enter to win the $1,500 scholarship!

The 3rd step in our series is Get Organized. It’s hard to keep all the information about financial aid, programs, courses and housing about each school in your head. So, don’t. Instead, create a folder for each school you plan to apply to. In the folder, you can store admissions information and application materials to easily reference and compare. While you are on the Next Indiana website, don’t forget to check-out the 2020-21 issue of Next Indiana for more information on Career, College and Cost and DEFINITELY enter to win the $1,500 scholarship!

It is time to Take the SAT or ACT. Check with the colleges you plan to apply to for their policies regarding submission of test scores. And think about this: although an SAT or ACT score may be optional, strong scores could help your application, so taking either—or both—exams couldn’t hurt. Remember, too, that if you are a 21st Century Scholar, you must take either the SAT or ACT to claim that life-changing scholarship opportunity. Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch can also take the SAT and ACT for free. Ask…

Seniors—as a new school year begins, either virtually or back in the classrooms, there are many things that you need to do. One of the biggest is to apply to college. Even though the deadlines for your school of choice may be a few months away, you should begin your application sooner than later so you are ready to hit “send” when the time is right. Start here: Choose 3 – 6 or More Colleges to Apply to. You may have a favorite, but don’t limit yourself. Make a list of several…

The IU Kelly School of Business is introducing a new program for business students looking to work in the sports field. Kelley’s Sports Industry Workshop, developed by IU professor Nathaniel Grow, who is a nationally recognized expert in the field of sports law, begins this fall. Read more about this story on Inside Indiana Business with Gerry Dick.

The pandemic has certainly changed the way many of us go to school and work these days. As schools begin to welcome students back, some of you may be looking for an online college. But what if you don’t have access to the internet or a computer? Western Governors University has created the Online Access Scholarship. This scholarship will cover the cost of installing and accessing the internet for qualifying students. The scholarship will also provide recipients with a refurbished laptop, complete with a webcam. Listen to an interview with WGU…

As you begin your college search, you want to find quality schools that are also affordable. Money magazine weighed more than 20,000 data points, including tuition fees, family borrowing, and career earnings to compile and rank the country’s best colleges by value. Did you know that 20 of the “Best Colleges in America” are right here in Indiana? So, as you are putting together your list of colleges, Indiana is a great place to start! For a list of Indiana Colleges, visit our College Directory page. Interested in seeing more? Visit our College…

How is this possible you may ask? Is this a virtual tour? No, it is not. As you know from studying your Indiana history, our State was settled by many different immigrants. As they made Indiana their home and founded new cities, they named many of them after the European cities in their homeland. Visit Indiana has compiled a list of 10 stops for a perfect European Indiana road trip. Get out there and enjoy the journey.

We are proud to announce that our staff has won a 2020 APEX Award for Publication Excellence for the 2019-20 issue of Next Indiana: A Guide to Life After High School. We were one of 10 recipients of the award and entries were made from all over the world. The awards were based on excellence in graphic design, editorial content, and the success of the entry—in the opinion of the judges—in achieving overall communications effectiveness. We want to thank our wonderful partners at Learn More Indiana for the opportunity to work on this great…

As we prepare for a new and MUCH different school year, online learning could still be the way most of you must attend classes. Check out the new issue of Next Indiana and see “What We Learned About Online Learning in 2020”. There are also 3 blogs with information of how to study from home, and how to stay motivated to do you schoolwork while remote learning.

It is not easy being a teenager. It seems like everything about you and around you is changing. We all experience the confusion and awkwardness, but if what you or a friend are feeling seems overwhelming and begins to affect how you interact with your family and friends, maybe it is more than just teenage angst. “How Will I Know If Something’s Wrong?” is a great article in the new issue of Next Indiana. Make sure you, your family and friends know the warning signs and remember asking for, or offering, help is…

Will you be 18 years old on or before November 3, 2020? This is our next General Election Day—the Presidential Election and you want to be ready. You can make sure your voice is heard and help make a difference by VOTING. In order to vote, you must be registered by October 5, 2020. You can register to vote at IndianaVoters.com. You will need a valid Indiana Driver’s License Number or Indiana State Identification Number. If you do not have either of these, you can download and print the Indiana Voter Registration…