Posts by Chris Wills
Insider tips for the week of December 7, 2020
Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire – In our new “Liar Liar Pants on Fire” series, College Inside Track consultants debunk some of the claims we’re hearing about college admissions. We would love to address some that YOU’RE hearing, too! Tell us yours in the Comments section. We will respond with specific and factual info,…
Read MoreShould I take the CLEP exam?
By Dr. Matthew Andrews Should I take the CLEP? Is it better than SAT, ACT, and AP? A parent asked our team, “Should my child take a CLEP exam?” What is CLEP? The CLEP is the College Level Examination Program from the College Board. CLEP is similar to other College Board exams, such as: AP…
Read MoreInsider tips for the week of November 2, 2020
A simple way to start the college conversation with your teen – Bestselling author Jacques Steinberg and Eric Furda, dean of admissions at UPenn, have developed a practical exercise for parents and students to undertake together. They recommend using simple index cards to begin the process of looking inward at the specific attributes of…
Read MoreTop strategies to help grandchildren with college
With the holiday season approaching, there is a terrific way grandparents may want to consider spoiling their grandchildren. Today’s retirees have accumulated wealth at unprecedented levels and combined with the rising cost of college, many now are taking advantage of an opportunity to provide a legacy of education to their grandchildren. However, without understanding the proper…
Read MoreCoronavirus College Resources For Families
The already complicated college process just became more challenging for families in the wake of COVID-19. Campus visits are cancelled, ACT test dates are postponed and more changes every day. How does a family conduct a search and choose a college in this new environment? College Inside Track is here to help and below is…
Read MoreCollege Inside Track Alumni Newsletter – Fall 2020
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 MoreInsider tips for the week of October 5, 2020
Expert tips on getting the most scholarships – Suzy Fallon from College Inside Track shares the secret sauce for how families can maximize scholarship dollars. Key takeaway: Each college has its own financial aid philosophy and you want to find those that match with your student’s profile. Take a few minutes to read this…
Read MoreInsider Tips for the week of August 10, 2020
Hundreds of college deans explain what they want to see from applicants in the COVID-19 era – The Washington Post writes about a statement signed by over 300 college deans about what they do — and do not — want to see in applicants for Fall 2021. The process is different this year due…
Read MoreHigh school seniors struggle with ACT cancellations and system crashes
College Inside Track was featured on KARE 11 TV discussing the ACT testing and registration challenges faced by high school students and their families. In the KARE 11 interview, CIT’s Chris Wills said the problems started in the spring, when many schools had to cancel their in-school testing dates due to the virus. “You…
Read MoreUnderstanding the Common App COVID question
The Common App has added optional COVID-related writing sections for students and their school counselors to allow them to share with colleges and universities how they have been affected by the pandemic. The addition of the questions is clearly designed to provide a separate space other than general essay sections for students to write about…
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