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Insider tips for the week of January 4, 2021
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…
Read More1.5 MIN VIDEO: “Why Was I Deferred, and What Do I Do About It?”
The admissions landscape for seniors now includes a record number of deferrals. “Colleges defer for one of two reasons,” says CIT Consultant Lessa Scherrer. “Either they need more information, or they’re not sure you’ll enroll.” Watch this quick video for best strategies for dealing successfully with your deferral. “Why Was I Deferred, and What Do…
Read More“Uh oh!! I have to put my deposit (for X) down NOW at a college?!” Liar Liar #3
Q: “I have to put my deposit down NOW at a college, or we’re going to lose our chance at the best (dorm room, parking spot, first year courses …) A: CIT Consultant Suzy Fallon’s advice to parents who are feeling the pressure to put down money NOW: Resist the pressure! “If you’re even remotely…
Read More4 last-chance financial aid strategies for parents
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…
Read MoreInsider tips for the week of December 7, 2020
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,…
Read More“Liar Liar Pants on Fire!” Kids Who Major in Liberal Arts Don’t Make Any Money
In our new “Liar Liar Pants on Fire” series, CIT consultants debunk some of the claims we’re hearing about college admissions. Here’s Liar Liar Claim#2! Fiction: If my kid majors in the Liberal Arts, he or she won’t make any money Truth: “Some surveys show that philosophy majors perform better on average than most of their…
Read MoreLiar Liar Pants on Fire
At this point in the application year, we’ve all heard the enthusiastic, hyperbolic college admissions claims made by a friend, friends of friends, friends of children, the person at the grocery store. In our new “Liar Liar Pants on Fire” series, CIT consultants debunk some of the claims we’re hearing about college admissions. We…
Read MoreShould I take the CLEP exam?
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…
Read MoreInsider tips for the week of November 2, 2020
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…
Read MoreTop strategies to help grandchildren with college
With the holiday season approaching, there is a terrific way grandparents may want to consider spoiling their grandchildren. Today’s retirees have accumulated wealth at unprecedented levels and combined with the rising cost of college, many now are taking advantage of an opportunity to provide a legacy of education to their grandchildren. However, without understanding the proper…
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