Applying
Highly Selective College Deferring and Suggesting EDII? Here’s What to Know
Deferred at your highly selective school, with an option to choose Early Decision II? Here’s what you need to know. Numbers of applications submitted to Highly/Most Selective Colleges continues its strong upward trend during the currect application cycle. Admissions officers have speculated a number of reasons for this much higher rate of applications. Online learning…
Read MoreDeferred: What to Know and What to Do Next
1.5 MIN VIDEO: “Why Was I Deferred, and What Do I Do About It?” Deferred: What to Know and What to Do Next This is the season for colleges to release Early Action/Early Decision/Restrictive or Single-Choice Early Action decisions. We know that this is both an exciting and nerve-wracking time. Year over year, the…
Read MoreThe Test Optional Path in the 2022/23 Application Cycle: Q and A with CIT College Testing Policies Expert Tiffany Kolb
CIT Consultant Tiffany Kolb discusses what families need to know now about the test optional path in college admissions: Important takeaways from the most recent application cycle, possibilities of test optional applications at highly selective colleges, and the process of determining whether or not to submit scores Q: Tiffany, in general terms, what’s new on…
Read MoreCongratulations to Luke Niesen, Oberlin College and Conservatory ’26!
Luke Niesen’s junior year started on what was by any measure, a spectacular note. He had won a prestigious scholarship from the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program to wholly support a year of study in Germany. It was a fantastic opportunity, and one that certainly pushed him outside of his comfort zone. A gifted musician, Luke…
Read MoreVIDEO: HS Juniors! Three Things To Do NOW To Ensure Strong Teacher Rec Letters
Juniors have experienced online learning and cancelled or shortened extracurricular activities as a function of the pandemic. Many report that they tell they hardly know the teachers who have taught them this year, and worry that their core teachers don’t know enough about them to write great letters of recommendation. Don’t despair! CIT Consultant Robin…
Read MoreInsider tips for the week of January 10, 2022
3 tips for having the scary college money talk – I’ve been shocked at how many families with HS students we’ve been meeting with lately have not talked about what they are willing or able to spend on college, both between the parents and with the student. We naturally avoid things that are scary,…
Read MoreInsider tips for the week of December 6, 2021
5 blunt truths about college – Marybeth Bock shares important insights every parent with a HS student should read (my favorite: not all professors are skilled teachers). As a bonus, she also recommends 5 books to check out that expand on her points. Maximizing your campus visit – Consider making a college visit…
Read MoreInsider tips for the week of August 2, 2021
3 college statistics to know if you want to pay less – Many families only look at college statistics in terms of getting into college, when they are just as important in determining how much they pay for college. DIY College Rankings covers three big ones to understand. 5 best essays – The…
Read MoreFAFSA changes
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 2024-25 school year, that year’s FAFSA will use tax information from 2022, so there are nearer-term considerations. And because the FAFSA is completed each year a…
Read MoreFAFSA change for families with multiple students
At first glance, the recent changes to the FAFSA appear to be a good thing: A simpler form with far fewer questions, increased financial aid eligibility for low income families, and a formula change reducing any penalty for grandparents who contribute to college. But another formula change could prove to be extremely painful to…
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