Where Parents
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How is an independent educational consultant different from a HS counselor?
Shane Bybee, owner of of Bybee College Prep, writes a wonderful explanation of how independent educational consultants (IECs) like College Inside Track complement the terrific work being done by high school counselors.
11 Common FAFSA mistakes
We recommend families always complete the FAFSA because you need it to receive any need-based aid, and even if you don’t qualify for financial aid based on your income, some colleges award merit aid (sometimes a few thousand dollars) just for completing it. With some recent changes to the FAFSA, the US Dept of Education recently shared a…
Holiday gift cards for college
You can give gift cards for Amazon, iTunes, and your favorite restaurant, so why not college? Check out this creative idea featured in the Chicago Tribune that you may want to share with your relatives!
5 mistakes when contacting college coaches
In a helpful article on The College Solution, Jon Fugler, Founder of Recruit-Me, highlights 5 common mistakes when contacting college coaches and advises aspiring student-athletes to create a well crafted introductory packet that introduces the athlete to the coach in a very personal way, providing just the right info to generate interest without turning into…
FAFSA Tips
By now you may have received a notice from the colleges to which your student has applied that they need a FAFSA. While you may not yet have even started to think about your tax return, it is not too early to complete your FAFSA. The first thing you should do is go to FAFSA.gov.…
5 Steps to a Successful College Essay
Write your essays in five easy steps 1. Get Started Decide on a deadline and mark it on your calendar. Break the task down into smaller parts: starting date, completion date, and working dates in between when you will write. Decide what you want the college admissions office to know about you that isn’t spelled out in…
3 Key Questions to Determine When to Take Standardized Tests
Most families don’t realize that timing should be a consideration when taking standardized tests, and Lauren Gaggioli of HigherScoresTestPrep.com shares 3 main criteria she uses to determine whether students should take their first test in the fall or the spring. Question #1: What level math is your student in? If your student is…
What Every Parent Should Know
Most teens start thinking about college in junior and senior year of high school. For many students this is too late! It is important for parents to understand that college admissions requirements have taken a major shift since they went to college. Schools are still looking for students with good grades and high standardized test scores – that…
Calculate Your Chance of Admission
Curious if you have what it takes to get admitted to certain universities? Check out the College Chanculator tool courtesy of Veritas Prep. Note that you will have to create an account to view the results and you can opt-in if you would like to have your info shared with colleges.
Jay on The College Checklist Podcast
In this recent episode of The College Checklist Podcast, our founder, Jay Benanav, shared an overview of how he helps students choose good fit schools and then a “deep dive” in to the cost of college. Jay shared his expertise regarding different ways to pay for college, including the various types of financial aid and loans available to families today. Download the podcast