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Premium resources to give your family an advantage with the college process.

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Insider tips for the week of April 4, 2022

  Finding meaningful summer activities – Summer is a golden opportunity for students to contribute to the story of who they are, what they value, and how they are engaging their passions, interests & dedication in meaningful ways. CIT Consultant Paige Feldman proposes thinking about what values a student wants to bring forward with the…

VIDEO: 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…

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Insider tips for the week of February 28, 2022

  Types of loans available – Fred Amrein provides a good summary of the various loans that may be offered to families as part of a college’s financial aid package. Key learning: The Direct Federal Loan is the only one entirely owed by the student and is limited to a total of $31,000 over all…

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Insider tips for the week of February 7, 2022

  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…

College Inside Track Alumni Newsletter – Winter 2022

  Mental health – helping students find support services on campus – Mental health issues are steeply rising among high school and college age students.  Coping effectively with these issues are challenging when your teenage child is at home with you, and is even harder once your child is off to college.   Join us…

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Insider 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,…

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Insider 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…

college bullseye

Insider tips for the week of November 8, 2021

   How to find good schools…for you – Rick Clark writes an excellent article about how to find right-fit schools. Click here to read some questions you should answer while determining if a college is a good school for you (and see a picture of a crazy-flexible 10-year-old).   Big changes to financial aid and…

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Insider tips for the week of October 4, 2021

  10 things to know about getting into your dream college – Eric Hoover shares 10 takeaways from his hundreds of interviews with admission deans. Our favorites: Express your authentic self, don’t take rejection personally because admissions officers aren’t looking for students that just fit one description, and colleges want to be your first choice.…

admission road map

Insider tips for the week of September 6, 2021

  Mission drives admission – Rick Clark writes a wonderful piece explaining why certain students get admitted when others don’t, and encourages students to consider what their mission in admission is before applying anywhere. An important read to share and discuss with your student.   Why undecided is a great college major – Dr. Deborah…