Posts by Chris Wills
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,…
Read More4 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…
Read More3 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…
Read MoreTop 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…
Read MoreWhat is scholarship stacking?
By Anne Weber There’s a term in higher education that people may use when talking about financial aid: scholarship stacking. Scholarship stacking refers to the ability to layer or add up aid, grants, and scholarships from multiple sources. The idea is that a student might be able to secure funding from different…
Read MoreSmall Business Owner Exclusion for Financial Aid Restored
The small business owner exclusion is back. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) reversed a change made in the FAFSA simplification act, by reinstating the small business owner exclusion as part of the federal financial aid formula on the FAFSA. Beginning with any new FAFSA’s completed for the 2026-27 school year, the value…
Read MoreWhy High School Success Doesn’t Always Translate to College
By Paige Feldman, College Inside Track “They had stellar grades in high school without even studying, but now they’re really struggling in college.” This is a common story we hear from parents of high-achieving students. High school success doesn’t always seamlessly translate to college, especially at a demanding college institution. Understanding the root…
Read MoreHow to build a perfect college list
By Paige Feldman, College Inside Track Creating a college list can feel overwhelming. With over 2,500 four-year institutions in the U.S., the competition is fierce —top colleges are attracting more applicants each year, driving acceptance rates even lower. So, how do you craft a college list that’s perfectly balanced: not too vast, not…
Read More8 things to consider for prospective college athletes
Having a student as a prospective college athlete is an exciting opportunity that also expands what you need to consider when finding the right college fit. College Inside Track’s Cozy Wittman, whose daughter played college athletics, shares important things to consider: Always keep eyes on the major and the educational piece It can…
Read MoreCollege application trends
At College Inside Track, we regularly track emerging college application trends, and there are a few that we believe all students and their families should consider when compiling their final college list. Test Optional Fact: Test Optional policies continue to be in flux. Some schools are truly test optional; some are test…
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