Expert Advice
Wisconsin Universities Adjusting Admissions Process Amid Coronavirus
College Inside Track President Chris Wills was interviewed by Wisconsin Public Radio to discuss how the coronavirus is impacting the college admissions process. Click here to read the story
Read MoreCoronavirus College Resources For Families
The already complicated college process just became more challenging for families in the wake of COVID-19. Campus visits are cancelled, ACT test dates are postponed and more changes every day. How does a family conduct a search and choose a college in this new environment? College Inside Track is here to help and below is…
Read MoreExpert 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,…
Read MoreExpert Tips: Top 5 ways to evaluate a college in the COVID-19 world
Can’t visit the colleges you are considering? Here are 5 best practices from the experts at College Inside Track: Take a virtual tour of the campus with a current student as your guide Nearly everyone is telling families to take virtual tours of colleges they are interested in, which is certainly good and…
Read MoreInsider tips for the week of March 2, 2020
FAFSA says how much you can pay for college, but it’s often wrong – The NY Times explains what the FAFSA says you can afford is usually less than you will end up paying, which comes as a big surprise to many families. This is an important read as you plan how to make the…
Read More4 mistakes families make that increase the cost of college
While the rising cost is certainly a factor, it is often the decisions that families themselves make that cause them to unnecessarily pay more for college than they should (and potentially increase student debt). As hard as it might be, there are instances where a family needs to recognize a college-related decision will cost them…
Read MoreInsider tips for the week of February 3, 2020
Major change to 529 Plans – The SECURE Act signed at the end of last year includes a major change that now allows 529 Plan dollars to be used to pay for student loans. However, certain states need to conform their tax laws to the federal one, otherwise folks in those states may face…
Read More3 tips for having the college money talk
In our work of helping families navigate the college process. it continually shocks me how few have not had the “money talk,” either between the parents and/or between parents and child. Given the cost of college today, this is highly irresponsible at best, if not downright dangerous. I haven’t heard of many married couples not…
Read MoreInsider tips for the week of January 13, 2020
College savings cheat sheet – Financial aid guru Mark Kantrowitz shares some tremendous advice with Katie Couric on how parents can best approach the financial aspect of college. Among my favorites: Parents overestimate eligibility for merit aid, underestimate eligibility for need-based aid, and aren’t aware that most colleges meet financial need with loans, not…
Read More2 valuable college planning changes in the SECURE Act
The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement (SECURE) Act signed into law at the end of 2019 includes two significant college planning changes that families need to know about. 529 Plans can now be used to repay student loans Previously, 529 Plans could be used for qualified college expenses and $10,000 annually of…
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