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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…
Liberal Arts in the City? YES! New Virtual Sessions Explore 5 Five Fabulous Liberal Arts Colleges in Big City Settings
It’s not unusual to hear from a CIT student who, after having completed her research on a college her CIT consultant has suggested for her list – “That college looks AMAZING, but it’s right in the middle of a cornfield! … There’s probably sorghum in the area too. There’s probably even wheat fields. NO WAY!”…
Spreading Artwork with Grace
Spreading Artwork with Grace College Inside Track client Grace Guillaume decided to make the most of her time at home during COVID-19 by improving her artistic skills. Inspired to take action through CIT’s Pick Two program, Grace turned to online art classes to improve her acrylic painting technique. The Pick Two program is…
Insider 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…
Community service is a piece of cake for CIT client Kate Spence, a 17-year-old Minnesotan and high school senior with a passion for baking
College Inside Track’s “Pick Two” Program has provided the impetus for some inspired, and inspiring, projects. We’re particularly encouraged by the effort made by 17 year old baker-entrepreneur Kate Spence. Read about her community service in support of front line COVID-19 caregivers and patients. Community service is a piece of cake for Minnesotan Kate…
Understanding 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…
College Inside Track Alumni Newsletter – July 2020
4 tips on what to do about fall – CIT”s Cozy Wittman has been working through the uncertainties of returning to college in the fall with her daughter and shares 4 tips for working through the decisions you have to make. 3 ways families can lose financial aid – As if it isn’t…