WHERE TO START
An Overview of All Aspects of the College Admissions Process
COLLEGE INFO
Early Decision and Early Action Admit Rates
Create a digital portfolio – Wix or Squarespace
Essential College Counseling Online Resources
Common Application – can be used for over 900 colleges and universities. The majority of private schools and many public institutions use this application. Note that many schools have a supplemental application found on the platform that students will need to complete.
Coalition Application – can be used for 150+ colleges and universities. Only one school is “Coalition exclusive” – Univ. of Washington, Seattle. Students can store documents, artwork, and video content in their Digital Locker, beginning in freshman year.
Common Black College Application – can be used for 65 member HBCUs. Cost is $20 and students can apply to as many of the schools as they would like, ranking their top four choices.
CALIFORNIA:
The University of California System (UC)
NEW YORK:
TEXAS:
UNITED KINGDOM SCHOOLS:
UCAS – (some, like St. Andrews, accept the Common Application)
Note that there are some schools that require their own application for admission. Examples include Georgetown, MIT, and many regional colleges and universities.
COLLEGE ADMISSION TESTING
The National Center for Fair and Open Testing (up to date list of test-optional/blind schools)
FINANCIAL AID
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – all students seeking aid MUST complete this form
CSS Profile – supplemental aid form required by some private and public institutions
FinAid – comprehensive financial aid website including a financial aid calculator
Financial Aid Resources from the U.S. Department of Education
Domestic Need Based and Merit Aid Offered By Institution
75 Colleges That Meet 100% of Financial Need
Colleges and Universities with Loan-Free Policies
SCHOLARSHIP WEBSITES
FINANCIAL TOOLS FOR STUDENTS
ADMISSIONS DATA
Early and Regular Decision Admit Rates (updated July 2021)
Common Data Set – Google “name of school + CDS” and find a list of factors that a particular school takes into account when evaluating applicants
GENERAL COLLEGE SEARCH RESOURCES
College Xpress: fun and simple way for students to research colleges
Colleges That Change Lives – good information about the college process as well as CTCL schools
Fiske Interactive Guide – online version of the Fiske Guide where you can research schools, create lists and track deadlines ($20)
Big Future by The College Board
National Survey of Student Engagement
COLLEGE LIST BUILDING TOOLS
ScholarMatcher – awesome search tool for low-income/first gen students
Corsava (sign up for a free counselor account) – great first step to building a college list
College Equity Index – tool to help Black students build their college lists
The Hundred-Seven – searchable database of HBCU academic programs
I’m First – guide for first-generation college students and their families
Campus Pride – resources for the LGBTQ+ community
Women’s Colleges – learn more about options for female-identified students
Men’s Colleges – learn more about options for male-identified students
American Indian College Fund – list and descriptions of tribal colleges and universities
Catholic Colleges and Universities – list of U.S. based institutions
VIRTUAL CAMPUS VISITS
In addition, many colleges/universities now have their own campus tours listed on their websites
GAP YEAR OPPORTUNITIES AND SUMMER PROGRAMS
SERVICE ACADEMY INFORMATION
APPLYING ONLINE
Common Application–NAASP
More than 800 public and private colleges and universities use one common application form for admission to their undergraduate programs.
When and How to Apply
What is Early Decision, Restrictive Early Action, Rolling etc. ?
Applying to U Conn
Webinar from fall 2021
GENERAL COLLEGE INFORMATION SITES
College Board Online
The most comprehensive college information site, College Board Online includes College Board tests, programs, and online registration, a searchable database of colleges, financial aid information, career planning information, and even a fee-based essay evaluation service.
College Catalogs
Provides PDF files (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) of 6000+ North American catalogs representing 2-year, 4-year and graduate institutions, as well as law, medical and specialty schools
Peterson’s Education Center
Information about educational programs at all levels and searchable databases of colleges and academic programs.
FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION
FAFSA on the Web – Families may use this site to complete and submit directly over the Internet the FAFSA Application for Federal Student Aid.
FinAid: The Financial Aid Information Page – This page (sponsored by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators) provides links to many sources of information about student financial aid.
SallieMae’s Plan For College – Courtesy of the SallieMae (the nations’s leading provider of educational loans), this site includes information for parents to determine college costs, savings, expected family contributions, and estimated borrowing needs.
The College Board’s Student and Parent Loan Information – This extensive site includes debt planning tips, college cost and expected family contribution worksheets, and information about a variety of loan programs.
Fastweb – Students register for free scholarship information at Fastweb, one of the Internet’s largest free scholarship search sites. Requires registration.