The following links will help students and parents as they move through the college search and application process. The list contains some major sites that have helpful information on college searches, financial aid, scholarships, and testing as well as links to other sites.
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Education Conservancy (EC) [http://www.educationconservancy.org] is a non-profit organization committed to improving college admission processes for students, colleges and high schools.
The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) [http://www.NACAC.COM]
COLLEGE SEARCHES
Cappex [http://www.cappex.com] College search and financial aid information.
GoCollege [http://www.gocollege.com] College search, scholarship search, SAT practice tests and campus crime statistics.
CampusTours [http://www.campustours.com] College tours on-line, plus campus maps and web sites.
College Confidential
www.collegeconfidential.com/
Find hundreds of pages of articles about choosing a college, getting into the college you want, how to pay for it, and much more.
College Information – Peterson’s – The Real Guide to Colleges and …
https://www.petersons.com/
Detailed information on over 4000 colleges and universities, online schools, and graduate programs. Also provides financial aid information and test preparation.
college-insight.org/
College inSight is a unique web site for higher education data and research. The site is a valuable resource for anyone interested in college affordability, student debt, economic and racial diversity, student success, and other important issues in higher education.
Unigo: College Matching and School Reviews. Your Guide to College
https://www.unigo.com/
Where do YOU want to go to school? Read college reviews, get matched to schools, find scholarships, and more.
College Navigator – National Center for Education Statistics
https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
College Navigator is a free consumer information tool designed to help students, parents, high school counselors, and others get information about over 7000 colleges from the US Department of Educations’ database.
FINANCIAL AID
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) [http://www.fafsa.ed.gov] Complete the Application for Federal Student Aid online.
CSS Profile [http://student.collegeboard.org/css-financial-aid-profile] The CSS Profile goes into more detail than the FAFSA and gives a more in depth financial picture to the college.
Over 350 institutions and organizations use PROFILE to award their aid funds equitably to the right students at the right time.
fastweb [http://www.fastweb.com] A scholarship search program with information on local and federal aid.
FinAid [http://www.finaid.org] Information on scholarships, loans, and all types of financial aid. Includes a college expense calculator to determine financial aid eligibility.
ApplyingTOSchool [http://applyingtoschool.com] Search for financial aid, college applications, and online degree programs. This site offers transfer, college, graduate school, law school, and career school bound students of all ages’ information and immediate access to information.
Scholarships | Chegg.com [https://www.chegg.com/scholarships]
Get personalized matches from over $1 billion in awards; Never miss a scholarship deadline with reminders; Save scholarships for later & keep track of deadlines
ZeeMee: The official app for your college admissions journey
https://www.zeemee.com/
ZeeMee makes applying to college fun! Share your story through video, discover schools, and chat with other students.
GoodCall
GoodCall Scholarship Search Engine which is one of the largest databases of scholarships on the web. Unlike the others, GoodCall Scholarship Engine requires no personal information and it’s free to use.
CollegeBoard [http://www.collegeboard.com] Register for the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Financial Aid Profile. Many schools require the CSS Profile as part of the financial aid application.
Private Student Loans Guide – Eligibility, Costs, Repayment, & Warnings to help students and parents navigate the confusing process of student debt. Topics include: Federal Student Loans vs. Private Student Loans, Student Loan Eligibility, What are Private Student Loans?, Private Student Loan Interest Rates, What is a Cosigner? How to Obtain Student Loans, Paying Back Private Student Loans After Graduation, How to Save Money, and more!
Student Loan Guide
Compare Reviews for Student Loans
Read the Consumer Affairs free Student Loan guide designed to benefit students. With the high cost of post-secondary school education, the majority of college students need to borrow money to help finance their future. Many counselors suggest students start researching college loans as early as sophomore year. The guide is a completely free resource designed to help students make the right consumer decisions for themselves. Visit the webpage now.
STANDARDIZED TESTS
CollegeBoard [http://www.collegeboard.com] Register for the SAT and SAT Subject Tests
ACT [http://www.act.org] On-line registration for the American College Test (ACT) with prep information, a college search program, and financial aid estimator.
FairTest [http://www.fairtest.org] Up-to-date source for a listing of colleges and universities that do not require national tests for admissions.
The Princeton Review [http://princetonreview.com/college] View average SAT and ACT scores of various colleges and compare and contrast the SAT and ACT.
APPLICATIONS
Common Application [http://www.commonapp.org] Download the common application and a program to help you fill it out on your computer, or complete the application online and submit electronically. Offers links to obtain most of the required supplements to applications.
All About College [http://www.allaboutcollege.com] Links to college web pages with downloadable applications and online submission forms.
BOOKS
Colleges that Change Lives by Loren Pope. Published in 1996 and revised in 2000, this timeless classic reminds students about the tremendous potential that exists for them if they find the right college match.
College Unranked: Ending the College Admissions Frenzy From those in charge comes crucial advice for students, parents, counselors, and admission professionals. College admissions can be a sensible and productive experience. The collective wisdom of college presidents and admission deans tells us how.
Admission Matters: What Students and Parents Need to Know About Getting into College Sally P. Springer (Author), Jon Reider (Author), Marion R. Franck (Author)
The Fiske Guide This straightforward guide describes the academic climates as well as the social and extracurricular scenes at the “best and most interesting” schools in North America.
The Insider’s Guide to Colleges Reference book by students’ covers topics from admission criteria, and majors to housing, food and social life.
Rugg’s Recommendations on the Colleges A thoughtful approach to ranking the colleges. Rugg’s advice and comments have appeared in such diverse publications as USA Today, Rolling Stone, College Bound, The Boston Globe, Rocky Mountain News, The Cleveland Plain Dealer, New Jersey Monthly, and Your Money.
