Five Tips for a Successful Start to the Semester

We don’t want you to feel stressed about the cost of college, and we’re here to help. If you have any questions or concerns about paying for college, reach out to our financial aid advisors. They LOVE helping ISU students love their college experience. You can contact them by email at finaidem@isu.edu or reach out by phone at (208) 282-2756. In the meantime, make sure your student has ticked the following off the to-do list to maximize their funding resources for college.

TIP 1: Finalize the ISU application. With the fall semester quickly approaching, now is the time for students to finalize their admission application (if they haven’t already done so). It is a quick and easy process. If your student hasn’t completed their application for admissions, they will need to go to isu.edu/apply, click on the undergraduate application, and then follow the prompts to create an account and complete the application. Students will also need to send their high school transcripts and any other transcripts from other institutions that they took dual enrollment through. If you or your student has questions regarding the application process or where they are at in the process, please call our office at 208-282-2123.

TIP 2: (If not already done) fill out a FAFSA. This is the first basic step to determine what federal aid a student can qualify for. The application can be found at fafsa.gov. Remember to complete the FSA ID prior to starting the FAFSA. If a student is required to provide parental information on the FAFSA, then a parent should also complete an FSA ID.

TIP 3: Accept financial aid. Students accept their financial aid offer utilizing the BengalWeb portal. The acceptance process is under the “Finance” tab.  If a student is accepting loans, a new student will need to complete the Entrance Interview, which explains the rights and responsibilities of a borrower, and a Master Promissory Note.  Students may also reduce the amount of their loans at the time of acceptance. If your student needs help understanding their financial aid package, they can call our Financial Aid counselors (see contact information above).

TIP 4: Payment plans are a great way to break down the total due into more manageable payments. There are several options for payment plans. No interest is charged for a payment plan, but each plan charges a $30 fee to start the plan. 

TIP 5: Submit final high school transcripts. One item of business that needs to be taken care of, if it hasn’t already, is submitting the final high school transcript. A lot of students apply and are admitted based on their 7th-semester transcript; however, in order for the student’s record to be complete, we need the final high school transcript with the graduation date posted. High schools are very familiar with this process, and you just need to request that the transcript be sent. If you have questions regarding whether we have received the final transcript, or if you need assistance, please contact our office at 208-282-2123. We encourage students to submit their final transcript before the 2022 fall semester starts on August 22.