Resources
Every day we use numerous resources to help our students and families. Below are a few that might be useful.
College Search Process
Big Future – College search site where students can search by inputting numerous characteristic of interest (College Board)
Colleges that Change Lives – Information about each school included in the book (below)
College Navigator – Produced by the National Center for Education Statistics – searchable database with a wealth of data on individual colleges, including admissions, cost, outcomes, enrollment, and more
Public Honors Colleges -A site that describes and rates numerous honors programs and colleges in the United States
College Data – College search site (must create account -- free)
College Express – College and scholarship search site (must create account – free)
Books
The Fiske Guide to Colleges, Edward Fiske (published annually) – useful guide written for students that includes basic information on many colleges
Colleges that Change Lives: 40 Schools that Will Change the Way You Think About College, Loren Pope (also under Websites) Loren Pope, and the CTCL organization, specifically selected these 40 or so schools because of their extremely strong commitment to outstanding undergraduate education; they each offer unique opportunities for students. They are all small liberal arts colleges or universities all over the country.
College Match: A Blueprint for Choosing the Best School for You, Steven R. Antonoff, Ph. D.
Financial Aid
FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid (required for all families applying for financial aid)
FAFSA Forecaster – Tool to help estimate eligibility for federal student financial aid
CSS/Profile – Additional financial aid form required by many private colleges (administered by the College Board, not free)
FinAid – Extensive information about financial aid
Scholarships
WashBoard -Scholarship search site/match site for students in Washington state
Fastweb – Scholarship search site
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) – A regional organization of 16 western states that offers reduced tuition for students within those states who attend participating public universities
College Applications
Common Application – The application used by over 750 colleges/universities
The AXS Companion — A free, online resource to help students complete the Common Application. It contains short videos for every section of the Common Application as well as tips, glossary, and links to additional resources.
University of California — The application platform used by the University of California system
Cal State Apply – The application platform used for the California State University System (e.g., CalPoly)
The Common Black Application – The application that can be used to apply to over 60 HBCUs
Testing/Resources/Free Test Prep
College Board (SAT, Subject tests, AP)
FairTest (National Center for Fair & Open Testing) works address issues of fairness in standardized testing and maintains a list (now over 1000) of test optional / flexible schools
Khan Academy (SAT) – Provides free SAT test prep
ACT Academy (ACT) - Provides free ACT test prep
Learning Differences & Mental Health Resources
CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) – Lots of useful resources related to ADHD
Child Mind Institute - A non-profit that has many resources related to mental health in children and teens
Learning Disabilities Association of America - Information and support for people with learning disabilities and those who work with them, also does advocacy
LD Online – Information and advice about learning differences and ADHD
From High School to College: Steps to Success for Students with Learning Disabilities, Elizabeth Hamblet
Student Guide to Mental Health Treatment – A helpful guide for students and families prepared by McLean Hospital
Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity – Lots of resources/information related to dyslexia
Other Online Resources for the Search Process
Applying to College as a Trans Student — useful information and resources
Campus Pride Index – National listing of LGBTQ+ friendly colleges & universities
Campus Q – Free resources for LGBTQ+ students and their counselors
Canadian Universities – Information about universities in Canada
College Equity Index — An index that grades over 300 colleges and universities on accessibility & affordability, diversity, campus culture, and outcomes for Black students
HBCU Connect – Information about and listing of Historically Black Colleges and Universities
HBCU Lifestyle - Insight, rankings, scholarships, resources, and information about life at HBCUs
Hillel College Guide – Hillel International guide to colleges
Jesuit Colleges/Universities -- Association of the 28 Jesuit Colleges & Universities
LiberalArtsColleges -- This site provides information about liberal arts colleges and the value they provide to students
LGBTQ+ Youth Resources — Includes sample email to notify professors about identity preferences
NCAA Eligibility Center – The starting point for student athletes
Women’s College Coalition – Information about and listing of women’s colleges
Virtual Campus Visit Sites
CampusTours – Provides virtual campus tours
YouVisit -- Provides virtual campus tours
College Majors/Careers/Self-Evaluation
Career Explorer – Online tool that helps match interests to college majors and careers
Choose Your Major Quiz – Short set of questions to help connect you to majors of interest (created by Marquette University)
College Majors 101 – Provides information about numerous majors
College Majors Quiz – Chose between options (“would you rather…?”) to come up with suggested majors of interest (created by St. Louis University)
MyMajors — Answer questions to lead to potential majors and careers (must create account)
What Can I do with a Major in… — Created by UNC, Wilmington, this site gives guidance on majors and careers
What Should I Major In? – A series of questions to determine potential majors (created by Loyola University Chicago)
16 Personalities — Online personality test similar to Myers-Briggs (free for basic analysis)
Gap Year/Semester Resources
Gap Year Association - GYA is a non-profit organization that provides accreditation and standard-setting for gap year programs
Semester Schools Network – This network represents 13 schools offering semester-long programs for high school students
Other Books & Resources we Found Interesting
Anti-racism library curated by LeanIn.org - an extensive list of books, articles, podcasts, videos, and organizations Here is the link.
The Dyslexic Advantage, Brock Eide MD and Fernette Eide MD
Enough as She Is: How to Help Girls Move Beyond Impossible Standards of Success to Live Healthy, Happy, and Fulfilling Lives, Rachel Simmons
Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life, William Deresiewicz
Fraternity: An Inside Look at a Year of College Boys Becoming Men, Alexandra Robbins
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, Angela Duckworth
Harvard’s Graduate School of Education’s Making Caring Common Project put together a great collection of resources and tips for families and teens that focus on helping foster "caring and concern for the common good at school, at home, and in our communities.” Here is a link.
How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success, Julie Lythcott-Haimes
Mindset, Carol Dweck
The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives, William Stixrud and Ned Johnson
Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls, Lisa Damour (and other books by this author)
Where You Go is not Who You’ll Be, Frank Bruni