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Should 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…
Insider 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…
Top 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…
Coronavirus 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…
Insider 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…
CIT Founder Jay Benanav: Reporting Annuities on the FAFSA and CSS Profile
Do annuities count on the FAFSA & CSS Profile? It depends, says college money expert Jay Benanav. “Qualified” annuities do not get reported on the FAFSA but do get reported on the CSS. However, “nonqualified” annuities DO get reported on the FAFSA as well as the CSS. This raises the question: What is the difference…
Test Optional or Not? A Q and A with CIT College Testing Policies Whiz Tiffany Kolb: What You Need To Know Right Now About College Applications and Test Optional Policies
Should your senior apply to a particular college ticking the Test Optional box? In this interview, CIT Consultant and testing policies whiz Tiffany Kolb addresses college testing policies and family choices around test optional admissions — including possible impacts on Early Action or Early Decision applications and merit aid Q: Under…
Insider Tips for the week of September 7, 2020
Important financial aid info – College Inside Track’s Jay Benanav provides answers to important financial aid questions. Take a few minutes to read his advice. 9 tips for communicating with your teen – Connecting with your teenager was tough enough before the stresses of COVID-19. Rachel Ehmke shares valuable tips on an important…
Impressive work by any measure! Mankato students learn skills and impact community with Pick Two project
Mankato MN high school student Katie Rooney wanted to make a difference and had an idea stirring, but wasn’t quite ready to take action. Once she put together the College Inside Track Pick Two plan and engaged the help of a friend, a beautiful service project started to take shape. Katie’s idea was to repurpose…