Posts by Chris Wills
FAFSA change for small business owners
Add small business owners to the group of people impacted by the recent FAFSA changes. Previously, the value of any privately held business, including assets, with less than 100 employees did not need to be reported on the FAFSA as part of its small business exclusion. However, that exclusion has gone away as part…
Read MoreTips on the 6 trickiest FAFSA questions
The FAFSA is a quintessential government form, meaning it isn’t always as easy to understand as it should be. Far too many families make mistakes that are unnecessarily costing them money. Check out the following tips on how to tackle the 6 trickiest questions: Schooling of parents The answer should be the last level…
Read MoreStudent Aid Index eligibility guide for 2025-26
The new FAFSA for the 2025-26 school year is scheduled to open on Dec. 1, 2024, (delayed from Oct. 1), and the Department of Education has provided this guide on the formula. The guide both explains the formula for the Student Aid Index (SAI), as well as eligibility for Pell Grants. The SAI number…
Read MoreNew ACT changes
Following the lead of the recent SAT changes, ACT announced new changes going into effect starting in April 2025. The changes will first only apply to national online test dates in April 2025, then will be rolled out to hard copy tests in September 2025, and finally school-day tests in Spring 2026. Here’s a…
Read MoreCollege Inside Track Alumni Newsletter – Sept 2024
When you get the text “I don’t feel well…” – Scott Sager writes about the challenging moment parents of college students face of not being right around the corner anymore when your son or daughter is sick. Check out his 5 suggestions in the moment and 4 recommendations for the next time your student…
Read MoreTuition resets and how colleges price themselves
College Inside Track President Chris Wills was featured on KARE 11 TV discussing Bethel University’s tuition reset and how colleges price themselves. Some, like Bethel, are choosing to abandon the high sticker price, high financial aid, model that has caused confusion amongst families who have no idea what college will actually cost. Wills explains…
Read More2025-26 FAFSA delayed
Another year, another FAFSA delay. The FAFSA form for students entering college in Fall 2025 would normally open on Oct. 1, but will instead be rolled out in phases and be fully available by December 1. The FAFSA will only be initially be available for testing with a limited number of students and institutions.…
Read MoreCollege is not a costume party
Heading into application season, we liked the following advice from MIT admissions: “Some students feel so much pressure to get into the “right” college that they want to make sure they do everything right—down to their extracurricular activities. Fortunately, the only right answer is to do what’s right for you—not what you think is…
Read MoreCollege Inside Track featured in Barron’s
College Inside Track was featured in Barron’s magazine and interviewed by editor-in-chief Greg Bartalos after Cozy Wittman was a featured speaker at the Barron’s Team Summit in Las Vegas. Check out “Mastering the Brutal College Planning Process.”
Read MoreCollege Planning Changes for Grandparents
Contributing to college has become more attractive for grandparents after a number of significant changes to how grandparent contributions are treated on the FAFSA. According to financial aid expert Mark Kantrowitz, cash contributions from grandparents, including distributions from grandparent-owned 529 plans and direct tuition payments to colleges, will no longer hurt a student’s eligibility…
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