Chris Wills – College Inside Track

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has suspended all federal student loan payments through September 30, 2020. Here’s what you need to know: No interest will accrue on your federal student loans through Sept. 30, 2020. Your federal student loan balance doesn’t change unless you make payments, meaning…

Can’t visit the colleges you are considering? Here are 5 best practices from the experts at College Inside Track: Take a virtual tour of the campus with a current student as your guide Nearly everyone is telling families to take virtual tours of colleges they are interested in, which is certainly good and…

While the rising cost is certainly a factor, it is often the decisions that families themselves make that cause them to unnecessarily pay more for college than they should (and potentially increase student debt). As hard as it might be, there are instances where a family needs to recognize a college-related decision will cost them…

3 ways to help your college student transition home – Like so many parents, CIT’s Cozy Wittman unexpectedly had her daughter back home after her campus closed due to COVID-19. Take a few minutes to read her advice on how to make that abrupt transition a success. Federal student loan payments suspended…

In our work of helping families navigate the college process. it continually shocks me how few have not had the “money talk,” either between the parents and/or between parents and child. Given the cost of college today, this is highly irresponsible at best, if not downright dangerous. I haven’t heard of many married couples not…

The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement (SECURE) Act signed into law at the end of 2019 includes two significant college planning changes that families need to know about. 529 Plans can now be used to repay student loans Previously, 529 Plans could be used for qualified college expenses and $10,000 annually of…

Completing the FAFSA when parents are divorced is one of the most confusing scenarios for families, because custodial terms and who claims the child on the tax return do not necessarily apply. Which parent info is provided on the FAFSA? Regardless of the legal custody arrangement, the divorced parent with whom the student lived with more…

So much energy and attention gets placed on the process of applying to colleges, that families often aren’t sure what to do once they have been accepted. And many are certainly unprepared for the intensity of the courtship that is about to ensue. Here is what every family should know heading into this stage of…

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,…

You fill out the FAFSA, which gives you your expected family contribution (EFC), which is how much your family will pay for college. Seems simple right? Ah, but like most things with the college process, that is unfortunately not the case. Here are 5 things every family should know about that EFC. 1 Your EFC…

Posts by Chris Wills

Federal Student Loan Payments Suspended Through Sept. 30

Expert Tips: Top 5 ways to evaluate a college in the COVID-19 world

4 mistakes families make that increase the cost of college

3 tips for having the college money talk

2 valuable college planning changes in the SECURE Act

Filling out the FAFSA when there are divorced parents

You’ve been accepted, now what?

5 Nuggets of College Planning Wisdom

5 things every family should know about their expected family contribution (EFC)