RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS
College Research Resources
- Big Future – Use this comprehensive search engine for college searches with multiple criteria, along with guidance on financial aid, scholarships, and career searches.
- Campus Security & Safety (CSS) – Go to this Department of Education site for up-to-date statistics on campus safety.
- California Colleges – Use this comprehensive website to learn about college options in California.
- College Confidential – Look for student forums on a variety of topics including college life.
- College Data – Use this fantastic resource to easily peruse colleges’ Common Data Sets.
- College Results Online – Find up-to-date data on 4-year college graduation rates by The Education Trust.
- Colleges That Changes Lives – Visit the CTCL website to learn more about these 45 life-changing liberal arts schools that are unknown to many families; the schools host traveling college fairs as a group.
- CollegeXPRESS – Online resource that contains well-researched college lists expanded from Steven Antonoff’s The College Finder, along with a search engine for private scholarships.
- Educate to Career – Go to this non-profit’s site for data relating to college admissions, educational attainment and career outcomes.
- Mark Moody’s Quick & Dirty College List Builder – See how your grades and test scores match up with colleges with this color-coded matrix.
- Noodle – Noodle is an easy-to-navigate college directory with brief overviews, student comments, and even Tweets from colleges.
- Parchment – Calculate your chances of admission using Parchment’s huge database compiled from their transcript services.
- QS World Ranking – Use the QS World Rankings by Subject for the most accurate data on the top schools in a variety of majors.
- Test Optional Schools – FairTest is the definitive resource on the 1,000+ schools that now have test-optional or test-flexible admissions policies.
- Unigo – Get college reviews by students and calculate your chances of admission, though with less accuracy than at Parchment; look for scholarships, too.
- US News & World Report College Search – While the relationship between the US News rankings and educational quality is debatable, their rankings by major can jump-start a college search.
College Visit Resources
- Campus Sherpa – If you want to hire a college tour company, this is a great choice for personalized campus tours led by students.
- GoSeeCampus – Use this free online tool to help plan your campus visits.
- A Pocket Guide to Choosing a College – Use this fantastic resource from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) to help prepare for college visits; it includes questions for students to ask during visits.
- YouVisit – If you can’t visit campuses in person, use this site to find authentic virtual tours of colleges.
Academic Resources
- Academic Info – A great resource, created by a librarian, to search for online learning programs.
- Academic Earth – Find open online courses in any subject.
Test Prep Resources
- ACT – Sign up for tests, send scores, and access free ACT test prep and sample tests.
- Colleges that Accept Self-Reporting – Save money on score reports by checking this list before you send your scores.
- CollegeBoard (SAT, SAT Subject Tests, AP) – Sign up for tests, send scores, and access test prep.
- Khan Academy – Free test prep for the SAT and several academic subjects.
- SAT Practice Tests – You can take all eight official released tests online.
- SAT Essay & ACT Writing Requirements – Be aware of individual colleges’ requirements regarding SAT and ACT essays.
- Schools that Require or Recommend SAT Subject Tests – Compass Education Group publishes annual updates about Subject Tests.
Financial Aid Resources
- California Student Aid Commission – Apply for Cal Grant aid that can be used at California colleges.
- CollegeBoard EFC Calculator – Use this calculator to get an early estimate of your Expected Family Contribution.
- CSS Profile – Over 200 mostly private schools require submission of the CSS Profile to apply for financial aid.
- FASFA – If it isn’t free, it isn’t the real FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid; beware similar websites that ask for payment of a fee.
- Federal Student Aid – Learn more about Federal Aid, including student loans, and the FAFSA at this site.
- National Association of Financial Aid Administrators – Go to the NASFAA website for the most up-to-date information about applying for and receiving financial aid.
Resources for Athletes
- NCAA Eligibility Center – Registering is the first step for aspiring DI college athletes.
- NAIA Eligibility Center – Register here to play DII sports in college.
- Be Recruited – Create a profile on this site for coaches to see.
- MaxPreps – Sign up with MaxPreps if you are an athlete seeking recruitment in team sports.
Resources for Artists
- National Portfolio Day (NPD) – NPD visits major cities once a year to offer free portfolio evaluation and guidance.
- Performing & Visual Arts College Fairs – NACAC puts on these arts-focused college fairs across the country.
Resources for Applying to Colleges & Scholarships
- The Common App – Access the application that is accepted at most schools.
- Weird Scholarships – Peruse the 50 weirdest scholarships…maybe one is a fit for you.
- Scholarship Tips – Tips to help you and scams to avoid in your scholarship search.
- Peterson’s Scholarship Search – Of the many scholarship search sites, Peterson’s is easy to navigate.
Looking for more information?
View our blog posts for additional information
for both students and parents.
Looking for more information?
View our blog posts for additional information
for both students and parents.
