Blog Post
High Point Looks to the Future
By CIT Consultant Lessa Scherrer “The “great disruption” in skills is underway. According to BCG and Emsi Burning Glass, over one-third of the top 20 skills in job postings for the average job has changed since 2016. … while technical skills remain highly valued, the top five most sought-after skills that employers are seeking today…
Read MoreInsider Tips for the week of April 6, 2024
Additional college expenses you should plan for – Most families are prepared for the basics of tuition, room, board, books and “fees”. In fact, this basic list is what college websites use to publish their Cost of Attendance. But there are other expenses you need to know about and plan for. Pre-health undergrad options for students – Many incoming college students…
Read MoreCollege Planning Changes for Grandparents
Contributing to college has become more attractive for grandparents after a number of significant changes to how grandparent contributions are treated on the FAFSA. According to financial aid expert Mark Kantrowitz, cash contributions from grandparents, including distributions from grandparent-owned 529 plans and direct tuition payments to colleges, will no longer hurt a student’s eligibility…
Read MoreWhy Student Engagement Matters, and Why College Is WAY More Than Your Classes and Major
Heather V McCowen, PhD College Consultant College Inside Track March 2024 What is Student Engagement? Why is it important? Student engagement is a multifaceted concept strongly associated with student learning, persistence, and attainment. Research has shown that student engagement can positively impact student learning communities, influencing student grades and course completion rates. For example, a…
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 MoreList Building for LGBTQ+ Students: Living-Learning Communities, with CIT Consultant Stephanie George
To create an especially comfortable, safe, and hospitable environment for LGBTQ+ students, some colleges have created LGBTQ+ living-learning communities. I’ve written about the strong beneficial qualities of living-learning communities (LLCs) in other posts, but here I want to offer five great LGBTQ+ examples that offer particularly inclusive, gender-neutral environments with compelling academic and social opportunities. …
Read MoreMental Health and Your College Student: Things You Can Do To Help Your Child Now
Written by CIT Consultant Susan Whalen We’ve all heard the grim news: mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, loneliness, and more are steeply rising among high school and college age students. Coping effectively with these issues can be sufficiently challenging when your teenage child is at home with you, but once your child…
Read MoreA Haven for Underserved Students: Guilford College
Written by CIT Consultant Lessa Scherrer Guilford College in North Carolina is a historic campus focused on lifting up students of color and first-generation students (the first in their families to attend college). Once a stop on the Underground Railroad, Guilford has continued their focus on the underserved: most of their students are Pell eligible,…
Read MoreInsider Tips for the week of March 16, 2024
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 valuable…
Read MoreMajor changes to the college process in 2024
This past year has resulted in some of the most significant changes to the college planning process in decades. Admission trends have changed how colleges admit students, there are substantial changes to the FAFSA and college financial aid that may make college more expensive for middle class and affluent families, but also provide attractive…
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