Frequently Ask Questions

I am looking for a website or other sources that will help us narrow down colleges based on our daughter's interests. Help!

Try myUsearch - an unbiased online resource dedicated to objectively matching students with colleges and providing fair and accurate college enrollment information.

What is FAFSA?

FAFSA is the free application for federal student aid. Parents and students are encouraged to fill this out after January 1st of the student's senior year, and then renew the form each following year. The FAFSA form uses numbers from your taxes to calculate a number that they think the parents can afford to contribute to their child's tuition each year. Using that number, Northland can award need based grants and work study to help pay for institutional costs.

How can I find out my child’s grades and attendance?

Because of FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, information is not provided to parents of students over the age of 18. Generally, schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student in order to release any information from a student's education record.

For more information, check out the Department of Education's site: http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html.

Will buying a house in the state qualify for an in-state tuition?

This depends on the state's in-state tuition requirements. For more information, contact the Bursar or Registrar at your student's university.

What are the biggest academic adjustments during the freshman year?

Learning to discipline oneself and manage time are critical adjustments. College classes may meet only every other day, or once a week, but the workload does not diminish. It is suggested that the student spend two hours of studying for every one hour in class, balanced with study breaks. Students should know to seek help for academic difficulties.

How much does membership in a Greek organization cost?

The average cost is $450-600 including initiation fees. Students will get a break down of each chapter's due structure during formal Recruitment, so they can see and understand the cost of each organization.

If parents are divorced, which parent fills out the FAFSA?

Your FAFSA information should be completed based on the information of the parent you lived with most during the last 12 months. If you didn’t live with either parent, or if you lived with each parent an equal number of days, use the information of the parent who provided the most financial support to you in the most recent calendar year.

What is a SEOG?

The Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) Program program provides grants to low-income students, and generally helps supplement the aid they receive from Pell Grants and other sources. Federal funds provide for 75 percent of the award; the college or university contributes the remaining 25 percent or more. In 2001-02, the program provided $691 million in federal funds to approximately 1.2 million students at approximately 3,800 postsecondary institutions. In 2001-02, awards ranged from $100 to $4,000; the average grant was $581.

What is the LEAP Program?

The Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) Program, which provides incentives for states to provide grants to students who attend college, has played a significant role in encouraging every state to create and maintain its own student grant program. States are required to provide at least 50 percent of the funding for this program. In 2001-02, federal LEAP funds provided $50 million in grants to students who attended postsecondary education. Including state matching funds, approximately 2 million students receive LEAP funds in 2000-01.

When is the best time to travel home for the first time?

Students recommend that new students wait a couple months before going home for the first time, citing Thanksgiving to be a good goal. Staying at school forces your student to connect.