Resources for South Dakota School Counselors and Financial Aid Professionals
Welcome to Mapping Your Future. We provide information and tools to help you provide effective service to your students and families, especially as they explore higher education as a means to a better future.
Mapping Your Future offers:
The South Dakota College Access News provides information and resources for counselors, students, and parents on planning, paying and succeeding in college.
Schedule your fall financial aid night event
At Mapping Your Future, we’re looking forward once again to participating in financial aid night events at South Dakota high schools.
The cost to attend a South Dakota public institution going up slightly
Students will pay a little more next year to attend one of the South Dakota public institutions.
Join Mapping Your Future for Financial Literacy Month
Join Mapping Your Future in this month-long celebration of money management information, tips, and tools.
A new and improved user experience coming soon for the myFAFSA
Filling out the FAFSA will get just a little bit easier soon with some new features announced by the Department of Education.
Celebrate College Decision Day
It's a decision that will impact your life significantly.
New academic programs to meet workforce needs
Students will have some new options when considering programs of study at South Dakota public higher education institutions.
Get access to your federal student aid info with your phone number
For students, parents, and borrowers, getting access to their accounts on the Department of Education websites may soon be as easy as remembering their own phone number.
Spring cleaning your social media accounts
Spring is known for a good time to do some cleaning, and your social media accounts are no exception.
May tasks for high school seniors
As your senior year winds down, don't let yourself become distracted by solely focusing on celebrating graduation.
From SDASFAA: Ask a Financial Aid Professional
As part of our ongoing efforts to reach the communities that we serve, we are excited to team up with Mapping Your Future and provide a quarterly article where we can tackle your questions or your student’s questions.
Scholarship application webinar materials, recordings available
To provide insight on completing scholarship applications, two webinars were recently held.
Schedule a College planning event for juniors
College planning events are a great way to encourage juniors to prepare for their senior year and to be ready to complete the FAFSA in the fall. Free text tips and reminders for your students and parents
Everyone is pretty busy these days - even high school students.
CareerShip information recently updated
The ability to research careers is important to selecting a career path. Deadline near for students seeking Critical Teaching Needs scholarship
South Dakota students interested in applying for the Critical Teaching Needs Scholarship Program have just over a month to get their application in for priority consideration. Countdown to high school graduation
If you are a high school senior getting ready to graduate, the countdown to graduation is exciting but it is a reminder that you have a lot to do in just a few short months.
Pros and cons of seeking a double major in college
If getting an education is a good thing, then getting a double major has to be twice as good, right?
The benefits of extracurricular activities
Extracurricular activities can be a fun, rewarding way to help make the most of high school. Reviewing your Student Aid Report
If you completed the FAFSA, you will receive a Student Aid Report.
April tasks for high school seniors
As your senior year winds down, don't let yourself become distracted by solely focusing on celebrating graduation. Providing summer meals for students
The South Dakota Department of Education is seeking schools and other organizations to participate in a federally funded program that provides meals and snacks to children in low-income areas during the summer months.
Jobs in South Dakota and in the United States
Software developer is one of the fastest growing jobs in South Dakota, according to research done by Yahoo Finance.
Four things successful college students do in high school
Success in life is often the result of good habits. In-person vs. online - deciding what's best
Online classes are part of almost every student's college experience today. March tasks for high school seniors
As your senior year winds down, make sure to complete the necessary admission applications, scholarship essays, and financial aid information. Three ways to avoid missing scholarship deadlines
If you don't meet the deadline, you won't qualify.
The top reasons why students don't apply for financial aid
Students don't apply for financial aid because they think they won't need it to pay for college or they think they won't qualify.
Apply for these South Dakota scholarships
South Dakota students can now apply for the Board of Regents Endowed Scholarships.
Four tips to avoid missing scholarship deadlines
If you don't meet the deadline, you won't qualify.
The most important trait of successful students
College is a time you can do what you want when you want. Where do I start applying for financial aid?
If you are a high school senior or the parent of a senior, the next few months can be crucial to applying for financial aid, such as scholarships, grants, and loans. February tasks for high school seniors
During your senior year, you will finalize your college choice. South Dakota Report Card for Education indicates progress for schools
More than two-thirds of South Dakota high school graduates pursue postsecondary education, and the majority of those students choose to stay in the state for their education beyond high school.
Five facts everyone should know about parent student loans
It may be hard to believe, but parents do have a huge influence on the lives of their children. January tasks for high school seniors
During your senior year, you will finalize your college choice. December tasks for high school seniors
During your senior year, you will finalize your college choice. Guide to Life after High School reinforces discussions
Students can benefit from learning in a variety of formats. Five questions to ask yourself before choosing a college
When I graduated from high school, I wanted to go to college. South Dakota students ready for future success
South Dakota students are scoring better on their ACT exam than students nationwide, and those same students have a high interest in pursuing postsecondary education.
Future state legislative leaders needed
The November 12 application deadline is approaching for state legislative page program.
Every college student needs this important skill
It is probably one of the most important skills needed for college.
Featuring South Dakota high schools
Mapping Your Future is glad to partner with SDEAF to provide early awareness tools and services to South Dakota high schools, students, and families.
Priority deadlines for South Dakota colleges
Colleges can have priority deadlines for the FAFSA to help determine who to consider for certain financial aid programs.
Understanding the types of financial aid
Financial aid is one of the tools that make higher education possible for many students.
What is the SAR, why you need to carefully review it
After you complete the FAFSA, you will receive a Student Aid Report.
Order printed brochures, flyers, bookmarks for students and parents
The Estimated Costs for South Dakota Colleges and Technical Schools flyer was updated September 2018 for the 2018-19 academic year. November tasks for high school seniors
During your senior year, you will finalize your college choice. October tasks for high school seniors
During your senior year, you will finalize your college choice.
September tasks for high school seniors
During your senior year, you will finalize your college choice.
High school students: Protect your identity
As a high school student, you probably already conduct a lot of your daily life online.
Do these three things for a great school year
The 2018-2019 school year is underway, and it is a time of excitement and anticipation. Moving forward with a mobile FAFSA
The Department of Education recently released a mobile friendly version of the FAFSA and announced plans for a new app to be released later this summer.
One thing you must understand before entering higher education
After all the applications, essays, reference letters, and forms, you are finally ready to enter higher education and prepare for your future career. Text tips and reminders bookmark available
Mapping Your Future has implemented a new texting service for South Dakota high school students, parents, and counselors.
Facts about work-study your financial aid counselor wants you to know
Despite the name, work-study doesn’t mean that your school or college will pay you to study.
It's a great time to be a high school junior
If you are a high school junior, you probably have some college or career dreams for life after high school.
To be or not to be a resident of the dorms
As a college student, you face many decisions that can affect the rest of your life.
Packing list for college bound students
Packing for college is an exciting time, but it can be challenging to know what to pack, and easy to forget something important. Verification of your financial aid application
You've completed all the paperwork, filled out the forms, and submitted everything by the deadline to apply for financial aid. U.S. Presidential Scholars Program candidates in South Dakota
Congratulations to the sixty-five South Dakota high school students who are among the list of candidates for the 2018 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, which honors some of the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors.
Apply now for the Build Dakota Scholarship
If you plan to attend one of South Dakota’s technical institutes next fall and pursue a degree in an area designated as high need, you could have your education paid for through the Build Dakota Scholarship Fund.
Using South Dakota website resources
The SouthDakota.MappingYourFuture.org website is designed to provide college planning information for South Dakota students and parents, as well as resources and information for South Dakota high school counselors and educators. Being a responsible student (and responsible financial aid recipient)
When you get help to pay for college, it is time to celebrate. 5 questions to ask yourself before choosing a major
One thing about the future is for certain – you don't want to look back over your life and have regret about the career decisions you've made. Don't forget this important document when applying for financial aid
If you will be completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the first time soon, there are few things you should know about providing income information. FSA ID webinar recordings available
The Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID is an important part of applying for federal student aid programs, but the setup process sometimes causes confusion. Guide to Life after High School
Students can benefit from learning in a variety of formats. Dakota Corp Scholarship Program
The Dakota Corps Scholarship Program was created to encourage South Dakota’s high school graduates to: Obtain their postsecondary education in South Dakota Remain in the state upon completion of their education Contribute to the state of South Dakota and its citizens by working in a critical need occupation