Resources

The following are a collection of useful links for preparing for a successful college experience.

College Search Information
Student-Generated College Reviews and Discussion Sites – Social Media
Financial Aid and Scholarship Information
Scholarship Information and Databases
College Testing (ACT and SAT)
Associations, Organizations, Special Interest, Research, and Policy Information
Collegiate Athletics
Career Information
Summer Programs and Extracurricular Activities

College Search Information

• CSO College Center– mission is to promote college access and opportunity among first-generation and historically underserved student populations. – college searches, “ask the experts,” scholarship info, program database for various programs.
• The College Board– college-bound students are advised to access this on a regular basis – provides college searches, study plans, and a wealth of information.
• KnowHow2Go– a general broad range of information in teen-friendly format.
• Hobson’s CollegeView– includes college search, financial, application process, campus life, career & majors.
• Peterson’s– timelines, essay, test prep, scholarship search, financial aid info – some services are fee-based.
• College Scorecard– U.S. Department of Education – search college affordability, value, graduation rates, loan default rates, median borrowing information.
• The Common Application Online– a free online undergraduate application used by over 488 colleges and universities – the next generation Common Application Online (CA4), set to launch on August 1, 2013 – new essay topics now available.
• Colleges That Change Lives– college search, dispelling misconceptions about admittance, education about the importance of understanding an “individual student’s needs and how they “fit” with the mission and identity of an individual college community” – also, scholarship information.
• First in the Family– information specifically for first-generation college-bound students, timelines, inspiration, and resource lists.
• Naviance– self-discovery assessments (interests, personality, skills), personalized college search and goal, explore career options (app available!.

Student-Generated College Reviews and Discussion Sites – Social Media

• Unigo– a free online college resource guide and student platform claiming to cover more than 1,600 colleges and universities in the United States. The Unigo website is used by college students to share photos, videos, documents, and reviews of their school.
• College Prowler– provides online guides written by current college students, for prospective college students, giving an insider’s view. Student writers use surveys to gather hundreds of student opinions and reviews, then offer “grades” on all aspects of campus life at each school.
• College Confidential– hosts popular college admissions forums on topics such as admissions chances, financial aid, standardized testing and school life.

Financial Aid and Scholarship Information

• Federal Student Aid– information about how to apply, timelines, types of aid, eligibility, and managing loans.
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)– this is the site from which you will request a PIN number and complete your online Federal Student Aid application.
• FAFSA4caster– information to help understand your options for paying for college – you provide some basic information and they estimate your eligibility for federal student aid. Your estimate will be shown in the “College Cost Worksheet” where you can also provide estimated amounts of other student aid and savings that can go towards your college.
• CSS/PROFILE – from College Board– apply online for non-federal financial aid from almost 400 colleges and scholarship programs – one application.
• Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid– information about financial aid, scholarships, calculators, etc.
• Quest Bridge– program that aims to match high achieving low-income students with full scholarships to prestigious universities.
• Western Undergraduate Exchange– WUE permits 15 Western states to allow non-resident students to enroll in their state institutions for a lower than out-of-state tuition rate.

Scholarship Information and Databases

• FastWeb
• FindTuition
• Sallie Mae
• NM Lottery– specific for NM residences
• com
• Go College
• Scholarship Scams– check on information at the Federal Trade Commission-run site.

College Testing (ACT and SAT)

• ACT– test registration, college & career planning, financial aid information.
• ACT Fee Waiver Instructions– visit the site to identify if you are eligible then request through school counselor.
• SAT – The College Board– information and registration for SAT, information about AP, personalized information for college planning, financial aid information – sign up for “a test question a day”.
• SAT Fee Waiver Instructions– visit the site to identify if you are eligible then request through school counselor.
• Preliminary SAT (PSAT)– information about PSAT and registration.
• Score UP! – online ACT test prep services.
• The Princeton Review– fee-based test prep for SAT and ACT, also has free full-length practice tests.
• Kaplan’s Test Prep– fee-based test prep for SAT, ACT, AP.
• National Center for Fair and Open Testing– can search for schools that do not use SAT or ACT for admissions.

Associations, Organizations, Special Interest, Research, and Policy Information

• National Association for College Admission Counseling– lists college fairs, college rankings, financial aid info.
• Member Portal/United Negro College Fund (UNCF)– scholarships, college internships.
• Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities– scholarships (including educational travel), scholarship database, college search, college internships.
• National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education– college internships.
• First in the Family– “This website provides practical advice and lessons learned by high school seniors and college students who have made it to college.”Planning checklists, resources, tabs include “staying motivated beat the odds, building relationships”, etc.

Collegiate Athletics

• The Official NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse Web site: click resource for general information and eligibility.
• The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
• Athletic Aid– scholarships, financial aid, college searches for high school athletes.

Career Information

• The Occupational Outlook Handbook– career information.
• O*NET– provides comprehensive information on key characteristics of workers and occupation.
• Internship Programs– lists about 7800 programs and about 200k intern positions.

Summer Programs and Extracurricular Activities

• LEAD– a partnership of top business schools and corporations that provide summer programs for high school juniors.
• Black Excel– a comprehensive list of options for minority students.
• The Jackie Robinson Foundation– provides educational and leadership development programs as well as scholarships, mentors, and internships.
• A Better Chance– a resource for identifying, recruiting and developing leaders among young people in underserved populations.
• Union College Bioengineering Programs– 2-week, all expense paid program for underrepresented sophomores and juniors interested in biology and bioengineering.