Blog Post
Best of Both Worlds: World Class Academics and World Class Music
Studying as an orchestral trombonist is not for the faint of heart. There are hundreds of things that require focus and attention: interpreting every mark in the part on the page just as the composer intended, coming in at precisely the right time, keeping one eye on the conductor while keeping your place in the…
Read MoreInsider Tips for the week of September 9, 2023
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. It’s not about the college, it’s about you – Lee Coffin encourages students to start with personal reflection in the college process. Every college offers a different answer to those…
Read More“Enough” in the AP Curriculum Landscape
As high school students begin the new school year, College Board officials have sounded new alarms about students who are “over-enrolled” in AP classes, as well as speaking directly to equity issues posed by high schools that “underserve” their students with feeble curriculum offerings for the potentially college-bound. At the AP annual conference for educators…
Read MoreDr. Heather McCowen on Creating Successful Fine Arts Applications
Heather, let’s get to the Big Question first. Clients who come to College Inside Track wanting to pursue fine arts degrees always want to know, which degree should I pursue? The BFA or the BA degree in Fine Arts? Let’s start with discussing which majors the BFA may possibly cover. Typically, the Bachelor of Fine…
Read MoreJay Benanav Q&A: Imminent Financial Aid Tasks & the 2023-2024 FA Landscape
Q: Jay, what is new and reportable in the 2023-2024 financial aid landscape? What have we learned in the last application cycle? The later you complete and submit your forms, the longer you wait to get your financial aid award. Schools are expecting them much earlier than they used to. If a school requires the…
Read MoreWellness Resources For Your College-Bound Child
CIT Consultant Stephanie George discusses how to help your college-bound child plan for wellness Q. Nationally, there has been a strong uptick in students reporting depression and anxiety as a function of the transition to college. What’s your best advice for parents, including advice about resources? Before your child heads to college, I suggest…
Read MoreInsider Tips for the week of August 5, 2023
College admission zombies – ideas that need to die – Brennan Bernard addresses assumptions or untruths about college admissions that refuse to die. He addresses misconceptions about well-rounded applicants, testing, diversity and rankings. Well worth the read for any college-bound family. How to speak to a college admissions rep – As the primary ambassadors to prospective students throughout the application…
Read More5 things most families don’t know about before taking out student loans, but should
1 $31,000 is the maximum amount dependent undergrad students can borrow in federal direct student loans. Annual limits are: $5,500 in year 1 $6,500 in year 2 and $7,500 each subsequent year until the $31,000 overall limit is reached 2 You must complete the FAFSA to access the Federal Direct Student Loans and the Parent…
Read More6 Questions You Need to Ask on Your Next College Tour
Chirping birds, beautiful old buildings covered in ivy, large century trees and an eager student chatting and walking backward. This is what many of us experience during our kid’s college tours. I’ve been on many, many tours during the searches for my kids and in addition to the painted picture here, I noticed one other…
Read MoreInsider Tips for the week of July 15, 2023
4 guidelines for student loan debt – After the recent Supreme Court ruling and subsequent debate on student loan debt, we thought it would be helpful to provide a perspective that isn’t discussed nearly as much – reducing loan debt on the front end. Check out the 4 key guidelines for student loan debt that we use. College sports you…
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