Posts by Chris Wills
FAFSA changes interview on WCCO
College Inside Track President Chris Wills was interviewed by Esme Murphy on WCCO TV, discussing the changes made to the FAFSA. Wills explained that the changes, which go into effect for the 2023-24 school year, will be based on a family’s 2021 tax return information so families need to understand them now. Some of…
Read MoreInsider Tips for the week of February 1, 2021
I’m worried my child won’t get into a good college – The Atlantic’s Lori Gottlieb writes an important piece about how we as parents help our children address disappointment in the college process, but more importantly, in life. From the moment kids are born, they take their cues from the adults around them about…
Read MoreCollege Inside Track Alumni Newsletter – Winter 2021
FAFSA changes – The COVID relief bill passed at the end of 2020 also included some significant changes to the FAFSA. While the changes do not go into effect until the 2023-24 school year, that year’s FAFSA will use tax information from 2021, so there are current day considerations. And because the FAFSA is…
Read MoreInsider tips for the week of January 4, 2021
FAFSA changes – The COVID relief bill passed at the end of 2020 also included some significant changes to the FAFSA, including how multiple students in college are treated and how divorced parents complete it. While the changes do not go into effect until the 2023-24 school year, that year’s FAFSA will use tax…
Read MoreHelping Families Save Money on College
CIT’s Chris Wills was featured on the WCCO Sunday morning show discussing strategies for families to save money on college.
Read More4 last-chance financial aid strategies for parents
Now that the FAFSA uses tax return information from two years before a student’s high school graduation year, families of current HS juniors (2022 grads) will use tax information from 2020 when they complete their first FAFSA in the 2021-2022 school year. This is a huge deal because whatever those families are doing (or not…
Read MoreInsider 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…
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