Insider Tips for the week of August 1, 2026
7 Reasons to Ignore College Rankings – CIT’s Jay Benanav does a nice job of explaining why college rankings are meaningless and believes the fixation with them is a major reason for the tremendous stress and mental health issues that too many of these students experience. Take a few minutes to read and share with…
Insider Tips for the week of July 11, 2026
Capacity-constrained majors and the college list – CIT’s Anne Weber discusses problems posed by “capacity-constrained majors” and sets forth five possible pathways families may consider to beat this alarming trend when constructing the college list. Insider tips for building the college list (part one) – The College Inside Track Consulting Team shares some of their…
Insider Tips for the week of June 8, 2026
The secret of college admissions – Scott White explores how “getting into college” is not an activity, and it is all about who the student is, not what they do. A worthy read to share with your student. 6 questions to ask colleges – Many families are in the process of visiting colleges, and most…
Insider Tips for the week of May 2, 2026
How many AP classes should my child take? – Many families struggle with this decision, wondering if not taking AP or IB classes will hurt their chances of getting into certain colleges, while also being worried about their child being overwhelmed. Check out our advice. What to know about early action and early decision –…
Insider Tips for the week of April 4, 2026
4 mistakes families make that increase the cost of college – College Inside Track President Chris Wills says 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). A short read and good conversation starter within your household. Wellness resources for…
Insider Tips for the week of March 7, 2026
4 guidelines for student loan debt – With the recent policy changes to student loan limits, we thought it would be helpful to provide a perspective that isn’t discussed nearly as much – reducing loan debt on the front end. Check out the 4 key guidelines for student loan debt that we use. What is a college co-op program? – The…
Insider Tips for the week of February 7, 2026
Top 5 ways to get more scholarships – Everyone is looking for more scholarship dollars to help offset the cost of college, but the key is understanding what strategies are the most effective. Check out our new article on the topic. As the supply of applicants declines, college admissions gets kinder and gentler – As the Hechinger Report explains,…
Insider Tips for the week of January 10, 2026
Merit aid mythbusters – CIT’s Cozy Wittman was on the College Financial Lady podcast discussing myths about merit aid. Considering college financial fit first – CIT’s Chris Wills was a guest on the Tests and the Rest podcast to discuss why families should start by identifying their right fit college criteria first, as opposed to having their student spend…
Insider Tips for the week of December 6, 2025
Scholarship stacking – Scholarship stacking refers to the ability to add up aid, grants, and scholarships from multiple sources. But the catch, as CIT’s Anne Weber explains, is not all colleges allow it. How to build a perfect college list – How do you craft a college list that’s perfectly balanced: not too vast, not too limited, and precisely…
Insider Tips for the week of November 1, 2025
Activities that impress colleges the most – Parents often wonder what type of activities their student can participate in to impress college admission officers most. CIT’s Paige Feldman explores this common question through the lens of impact, and what really matters most. A valuable read. The truth about rejection by elite colleges – Michelle Kretzschmar explains the reality is…