Applying to College Archives - College Inside Track

FAFSA changes – The COVID relief bill passed at the end of 2020 also included some significant changes to the FAFSA, including how multiple students in college are treated and how divorced parents complete it. While the changes do not go into effect until the 2023-24 school year, that year’s FAFSA will use tax…

The COVID relief bill passed at the end of 2020 also included some significant changes to the FAFSA. While the changes do not go into effect until the 2023-24 school year, that year’s FAFSA will use tax information from 2021, so there are current day considerations. And because the FAFSA is completed each year…

Deferred at your highly selective school, with an option to choose Early Decision II? Here’s what you need to know. Colleges have seen record numbers of qualified applicants during the 2020/2021 application cycle, upwards of 25% at many Highly/Most Selective Colleges. Admissions officers have speculated a number of reasons for this much higher rate of…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Applying to College

FAFSA changes

Deferred at your Highly Selective School, Encouraged to Choose Early Decision II? Here’s What To Do

4 last-chance financial aid strategies for parents

Should I take the CLEP exam?

Insider tips for the week of October 5, 2020

Insider Tips for the week of September 7, 2020

Insider Tips for the week of August 10, 2020