Major changes to the college process in 2024

graduation ceremony

  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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Insider Tips for the week of January 6, 2024

New FAFSA live – The overhauled FAFSA form for students attending college in Fall 2024 is now live, although this is during a “soft launch” period where the website may intermittently be down for updates. Check out our article to learn more. College admission is about celebration – Rick Clark encourages students to celebrate the applications they’ve submitted and all…

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Insider Tips for the week of November 4, 2023

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. The complication with FAFSA simplification – The Brookings Institute analyzes how the FAFSA changes will impact different families based on their income and the number of…

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Insider Tips for the week of August 5, 2023

College admission zombies – ideas that need to die – Brennan Bernard addresses assumptions or untruths about college admissions that refuse to die. He addresses misconceptions about well-rounded applicants, testing, diversity and rankings. Well worth the read for any college-bound family. How to speak to a college admissions rep – As the primary ambassadors to prospective students throughout the application…

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Insider Tips for the week of April 8, 2023

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 choices…

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Insider Tips for the week of January 7, 2023

529 plan funds can be rolled over into Roth IRAs – Tucked into the year-end spending bill just signed into law was a major change that allows 529 plan funds to roll over into Roth IRAs. Check out our latest article for the details. Choices and options – a blueprint for college admission – Georgia…

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Insider tips for the week of October 8, 2022

10 FAFSA mistakes to avoid – The FAFSA opened on Oct. 1 and is now available to be completed by 2023 HS grads. Here are the most common mistakes to avoid, courtesy of the Dept. of Ed. College admissions are stressful enough, don’t make it worse – Allison Slater Tate provides a healthy reminder to…

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Congratulations 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…

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Insider tips for the week of January 10, 2022

waitlist

  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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