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5-MYTHS

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“Uh oh!! I have to put my deposit (for X) down NOW at a college?!” Liar Liar #3

Q: “I have to put my deposit down NOW at a college, or we’re going to lose our chance at the best (dorm room, parking spot, first year courses …) A:  CIT Consultant Suzy Fallon’s advice to parents who are feeling the pressure to put down money NOW:  Resist the pressure!  “If you’re even remotely…

4 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…

student navigating college map

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,…

“Liar Liar Pants on Fire!” Kids Who Major in Liberal Arts Don’t Make Any Money

In our new “Liar Liar Pants on Fire” series, CIT consultants debunk some of the claims we’re hearing about college admissions.  Here’s Liar Liar Claim#2! Fiction: If my kid majors in the Liberal Arts, he or she won’t make any money Truth: “Some surveys show that philosophy majors perform better on average than most of their…

myths about college admissions

Liar Liar Pants on Fire

At this point in the application year, we’ve all heard the enthusiastic, hyperbolic college admissions claims made by a friend, friends of friends, friends of children, the person at the grocery store.   In our new “Liar Liar Pants on Fire” series, CIT consultants debunk some of the claims we’re hearing about college admissions. We…

CLEP exam

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…

parent talking to child about college

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…

scholarships good idea

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…