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Insider tips for the week of June 8, 2020
College admissions advice and helpful tips to help you navigate the process: My ACT keeps getting canceled – What am I supposed to do? – Recommendations on what to do if your ACT is canceled, how it will affect the college admissions process, and a list of test center cancellations. 3 tips…
Federal student loan rates fall to lowest on record
For some good news amidst the current pandemic, the federal direct student loan rates are falling to the lowest interest rates on record for families taking on federal student loans this year. Undergraduate rates for the 2020-2021 school year will be 2.75%. This is a reduction of 1.78% as compared to the 2019-20…
Insider Tips for the week of May 4, 2020
3 new paying for college strategies in the COVID-19 world – COVID-19 has massively disrupted the college planning process, which has created new opportunities for families to potentially reduce their cost. Check out 3 new college financial planning strategies to consider (as always, please consult with a financial professional to determine if any are…
Paying for college – 3 new strategies
COVID-19 has massively disrupted the college planning and paying for college process, which has created new opportunities for families to potentially reduce their cost. Here are three new college financial planning strategies to consider (as always, please consult with a financial professional to determine if any are a fit): Take advantage of low…
What does test-optional really mean?
The list of test-optional schools has expanded quite a bit recently, mostly because of the difficulties students are facing for test opportunities. ACT and SAT cancellations have been rampant due to COVID-19. Colleges, not wanting students to have to exclude them from their college lists, have decided to go “test-optional;” some as a…
Expert Tips: Three Tips to Engage Your Teen While They Are Stuck At Home with You
By Dr. Susan Whalen, College Inside Track Consultant The news is in: high schools across the country in strong numbers have closed down for all but virtual business, for the rest of the semester. Too, many summer programs that teens were counting on to develop their interests and their college resumes are now…
Should High School Seniors Enroll in College This Fall?
The answer, like so many other college-related questions, is “It depends.” As COVID-19 continues to disrupt our lives and stay-at-home directives extend into May, speculation has been rising about how colleges are going to handle the fall semester if the pandemic…
Insider tips for the week of April 6, 2020
5 ways to evaluate a college in the COVID-19 world – Campuses are closed for visits, so how does a family evaluate a college in the new COVID-19 world? College Inside Track President Chris Wills goes beyond the normal advice and recommends 5 excellent tips. 9 important adulting skills to teach your captive…
Federal Student Loan Payments Suspended Through Sept. 30
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has suspended all federal student loan payments through September 30, 2020. Here’s what you need to know: No interest will accrue on your federal student loans through Sept. 30, 2020. Your federal student loan balance doesn’t change unless you make payments, meaning…
Expert Tips: 3 ways to help your college student transition home from a campus closure
By Cozy Wittman Classical music plays in 32 or 64 counts in my dining room while I try to get some work done. I poke my head out of my office to see my dance major warming up at our railing, on the wood floors, in my dining room. Unlike so many students,…