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5 Nuggets of College Planning Wisdom
1 Choose a college that is a fit academically, socially AND financially. And a financial fit inherently means that neither the student nor the parents are over-borrowing (see #2). 2 Borrow an amount no greater than the average first-year salary in your chosen field. If total student loan debt is less than your starting salary,…
4 guidelines for taking on student loan debt
Identify the average starting salary for the field the student is planning to go into, and the family should not have any more than that number in total education loans. Considering a school that would leave you with $35,000 debt for an undergraduate electrical engineering degree? That would pass the test for an acceptable amount…
A Fantastic Voyage to Nova Southeastern: Where Learning Meets Adventure! With CIT Consultant Tiffany Kolb
By CIT Consultant Tiffany Kolb Embarking on my recent adventure to Nova Southeastern University was nothing short of extraordinary. With a vibrant campus boasting 7,000 students, this hidden gem offers a unique blend of academic excellence, career support, and a plethora of exciting opportunities. I was not able to walk the entire campus because of…
“Enough” in the AP Curriculum Landscape
Written by CIT Consultant Susan Whalen As high school students begin the new school year, College Board officials have sounded new alarms about students who are “over-enrolled” in AP classes, as well as speaking directly to equity issues posed by high schools that “underserve” their students with feeble curriculum offerings for the potentially college-bound. At …
Lynn University-holistic learning and student centered college experience!
Written by CIT Consultant Tiffany Kolb Lynn University, a private institution nestled in Boca Raton, Florida, has carved a niche for itself by cultivating a community of around 4,000 students who believe in the power of holistic education. Founded on the principle of educating the whole person, Lynn University stands out for its commitment to…
3 things to consider before making your college decision
May 1 is National College Decision Day, the deadline for students to make deposits to attend the college of their choice. But before you send in that check, here are three important things to consider: 1. Affordability is part of fit Many students choose their college based on academic and social fit…
Insider Tips for the week of February 7, 2026
Top 5 ways to get more scholarships – Everyone is looking for more scholarship dollars to help offset the cost of college, but the key is understanding what strategies are the most effective. Check out our new article on the topic. As the supply of applicants declines, college admissions gets kinder and gentler – As the Hechinger Report explains,…
Insider Tips for the week of January 10, 2026
Merit aid mythbusters – CIT’s Cozy Wittman was on the College Financial Lady podcast discussing myths about merit aid. Considering college financial fit first – CIT’s Chris Wills was a guest on the Tests and the Rest podcast to discuss why families should start by identifying their right fit college criteria first, as opposed to having their student spend…
Insider Tips for the week of December 6, 2025
Scholarship stacking – Scholarship stacking refers to the ability to add up aid, grants, and scholarships from multiple sources. But the catch, as CIT’s Anne Weber explains, is not all colleges allow it. How to build a perfect college list – How do you craft a college list that’s perfectly balanced: not too vast, not too limited, and precisely…
Top 5 ways to get more scholarship dollars
Everyone is looking for more scholarship dollars to help offset the cost of college, but the key is understanding what strategies are the most effective. Build the right college list Many families build a college list based on their student’s right academic and social fit (and often aspirations) and leave the financial aspect…