15 Years of College Admissions: What’s Changed, What Hasn’t, and What It Means for Your Student
When we started College Inroads 15 years ago, a 3.8 GPA and a strong SAT score could carry most students into a solid school. We'd sit across from families, walk them through the list, and feel genuin ...
When Should You Apply for Financial Aid during the College Application Process
The short answer? Earlier than you think. Financial aid is not something to tackle after applications are submitted or once acceptance letters arrive. In fact, waiting too long can cost families re ...
How Early Decision Can Affect Financial Aid and Scholarships for College Applications
One of the many decisions families need to make during the college admissions journey is deciding which application types to pursue. Early Decision (ED) is one such type that can affect your plan and ...
College Financial Aid 101: Maximizing Merit Aid Opportunities
Unlike need-based aid, merit scholarships are awarded for achievement. That might include academic performance, leadership, talent, community involvement, or a combination of strengths, and winning th ...
10 Things to Do to Lower Your College Costs
If sticker shock has you staggering, you’re not alone. The cost of college today can be incredibly overwhelming, but there’s good news in there, which is that families often have more influence on the ...
Rolling Admissions Explained
Rolling admissions can sound appealing — apply anytime, hear back quickly, feel less pressure… right? Well, there’s more to the story than that. While this application type does offer flexibility, it ...
Planning Your College Applications by Type: A Timeline for Juniors
Junior year is when college planning kicks into full gear. Not only are there classes, activities, testing, and big-picture questions about the future, but you also have to figure out how applica ...
Early Action vs. Early Decision vs. Regular Decision: Which Path is Right for Your Student?
When application season rolls around, families often hear the same advice coming from every direction: apply early! But “early” can mean very different things depending on the type of applic ...
Where to Start When Researching Colleges
With thousands of schools, endless rankings, and advice coming from every direction, it’s no surprise that many students get stuck before even getting started. And truthfully, researching colleges&nbs ...
What to Know About AI in the Admissions Office
As AI reshapes everything from homework to hiring, it’s no surprise that families are starting to ask: Is AI being used in college admissions, too? The short answer is yes, but not in the way many ...