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Insider Tips for the week of December 7, 2024
FAFSA now live – The new FAFSA for students attending college Fall 2025 is now live. Read our tips on how to tackle the 6 trickiest FAFSA questions. Current college trends – CIT”s Cozy Wittman discusses a wide range of college planning topics on the “Wicked Pissah” podcast, including how to find a good fit and finding schools…
FAFSA change for small business owners
Add small business owners to the group of people impacted by the recent FAFSA changes. Previously, the value of any privately held business, including assets, with less than 100 employees did not need to be reported on the FAFSA as part of its small business exclusion. However, that exclusion has gone away as part…
Tips on the 6 trickiest FAFSA questions
The FAFSA is a quintessential government form, meaning it isn’t always as easy to understand as it should be. Far too many families make mistakes that are unnecessarily costing them money. Check out the following tips on how to tackle the 6 trickiest questions: Schooling of parents The answer should be the last level…
Insider Tips for the week of November 9, 2024
Underclassmen strategies – If you have a HS underclassman, now is the time to nail down a concrete strategy related to college debt and the college search. Check out the advice from CIT’s Cozy Wittman. Study skills guide – Grades are a vital part of the college application. Courtesy of James Madison University, here’s a comprehensive high school study skills guide to…
Student Aid Index eligibility guide for 2025-26
The new FAFSA for the 2025-26 school year is scheduled to open on Dec. 1, 2024, (delayed from Oct. 1), and the Department of Education has provided this guide on the formula. The guide both explains the formula for the Student Aid Index (SAI), as well as eligibility for Pell Grants. The SAI number…
Insider Tips for the week of October 12, 2024
New ACT changes – Following the lead of the recent SAT changes, ACT announced new changes going into effect starting in April 2025. Check out a summary of what’s new here. How AI is changing the college admissions process – Some colleges receive tens of thousands of applications every year and are looking for a faster way to…
New ACT changes
Following the lead of the recent SAT changes, ACT announced new changes going into effect starting in April 2025. The changes will first only apply to national online test dates in April 2025, then will be rolled out to hard copy tests in September 2025, and finally school-day tests in Spring 2026. Here’s a…
Tuition resets and how colleges price themselves
College Inside Track President Chris Wills was featured on KARE 11 TV discussing Bethel University’s tuition reset and how colleges price themselves. Some, like Bethel, are choosing to abandon the high sticker price, high financial aid, model that has caused confusion amongst families who have no idea what college will actually cost. Wills explains…
2025-26 FAFSA delayed
Another year, another FAFSA delay. The FAFSA form for students entering college in Fall 2025 would normally open on Oct. 1, but will instead be rolled out in phases and be fully available by December 1. The FAFSA will only be initially be available for testing with a limited number of students and institutions.…
Insider Tips for the week of September 14, 2024
FAFSA delayed – The FAFSA form for students entering college in Fall 2025 would normally open on Oct. 1, but will instead be rolled out in phases and be fully available by December 1. Learn more from the Dept of Ed. High school activities for prospective engineering students – Stellar grades and test scores are only part of the…