Links
Helpful links.
We are always expanding and updating this section! If you would like to add a link, or report a non-working one, please let us know at . Thank you!CATEGORIES:
- Interest Surveys and Personality Tests
- Exploring College Options
- Test Registration, Information, and Preparation
- General Information Websites from Around the World
- Specialized College Information
- Community College Information
- Financial Aid and Scholarships
- Learning Differences
- Career Information
- College Ranking Websites
- Associations
- Research
All links also available as a Word document download from the WACAC Counselor Toolkit, under the Resources category:
Essential Websites with Descriptions
INTEREST SURVEYS AND PERSONALITY TESTS
http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/Jtypes1.htm
A short version of Myers-Briggs personality test. Asks 72 questions about preferences then, based on your answers, explains your personality type.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers-Briggs_Type_Indicator
Explanation of what the Myers-Briggs test is and helps explain your results.
http://www.doi.gov/octc/typescar.html
Take the personality test above to see what jobs match up with your personality type.
http://www.careerkey.org/english/
Take the Career Key, a professional career test. It takes about 10 minutes. It measures your skills, abilities, values, interests, and personality. Identify promising jobs and get accurate information about them.
http://www.positivelymary.com
Once you have taken the test, a graph of your True Colors personality spectrum will be displayed for you to print and keep.
http://www.educationplanner.com/education_planner/default.asp?sponsor=2859
Take a career quiz, learning style quiz and get practical information about the whole application process. Counselors section with handouts. Information available in Spanish, too.
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college
From the US News page, scroll down to Tools (on the lower left).
http://pics.collegetrends.org
Take the inventory of college styles and find out how your personal style influences the style of college you should attend.
http://www.mymajors.com
A short quiz on this site analyzes this information and suggests six majors to think about because they match your interests and high school experience. It can also give you more information about these majors, what type of courses you would take to get a degree and what jobs are available to graduates with various degrees.
http://www.colorwize.com
Free career aptitude test and personality test.
EXPLORING COLLEGE OPTIONS
http://www.act.org
Test information, college planning tips for students, information and resources for secondary and post-secondary schools.
http://www.aiccu.edu
Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities.
http://www.blackexcel.org
Information for black and other minority students seeking college information, includes a minority scholarship list.
http://www.allaboutcollege.com
Excellent search engine for colleges, test prep, and financial aid.
http://www.calstate.edu
General information about the California State University system.
http://www.campusprogram.com
This site not only searches for college programs by state, but also allows you to find colleges by specific career fields, majors, and occupations.
http://www.campustours.com
The Campus Tours Index provides fast and easy access to interactive tours of colleges across the United States.
http://www.anycollege.com
Use this database to search for colleges by program, state, type of school, sport and school name.
http://www.californiacolleges.edu
Career and college planning, information on every 2-year and 4-year college in California.
http://www.cappex.com
Colleges “search” through student generated profiles for “matches” and contact the student directly, also scholarship search and counselor toolkit with handouts.
http://www.collegeanswer.com
Launched by Sallie Mae in 2000, this site helps students and their families prepare for college with information on selecting the right college, applying to college, scholarships and financial aid.
http://www.CollegeBasics.com
Admission tips and strategies for planning for, applying to and paying for college, plus essay strategies and scholarship information.
http://www.collegeboard.com
Find information about the College Board tests (SAT, PSAT, AP), planning for college, finding a college, applying to college, and paying for college.
http://www.collegenet.com
Excellent search engine - hotlinks right to the schools that interest you. Has online applications and customized Internet admissions applications built for over 1,500 colleges and universities in the U.S. When applying to more than one program, you save redundant typing since common data automatically travels from form to form.
http://www.collegeconfidential.com
Information on applying, testing, finance, campus life, evaluating college rankings, reviews of books on admissions, articles and a special focus on Ivy League admissions.
http://www.collegedata.com
Choose, prepare, apply and pay for college with advice and tools from this website; get college admission help and search for colleges and scholarships; good college match feature and handouts in English and Spanish.
http://www.collegeexpress.com
Information pertaining to loans, colleges, scholarships, test preparation for smaller, private and lesser known colleges.
http://www.collegesofdistinction.com
Based on the book “Colleges of Distinction” this site allows you to search those colleges based on the 4 Distinctions: engaged students, great teaching, vibrant community, successful outcomes.
http://www.collegiatechoice.com
Simple non-promotional recordings of student-guided campus tours recorded by guidance counselors at over 350 colleges; cost is $15 per tour plus shipping.
http://www.csumentor.edu
Plan for college, search the 23 campuses and apply online.
http://www.ctcl.com
Colleges That Change Lives consortium.
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college
US News list of Best College rankings plus unranked schools, news articles and school directories. Tools and reports to take you through the steps of the college process - from choosing where to apply to the application process itself.
http://www.collegeprofiles.com
Features in-depth profiles with information about academic programs, athletics, campus life, and financial aid, along with geographic search, directories for honors programs, women's colleges, statistics on minority enrollment and numerous other resources for prospective college students.
http://www.collegeview.com
A fee online college search service with profiles of 3,500+ colleges and university sites, virtual tours, electronic applications, financial aid information, career planning tools, and more. Find others with similar interests in Coffee Shop.
http://www.commonapp.org
A general application form used by over 400 independent colleges that is available online.
http://edonline.com/collegecompass
Huge site contains links to careers and majors, college selections, financial aid, scholarships, test preparation, and summer programs.
http://www.fastweb.com
Site provides information about applying to schools, scholarships, grants and loans.
http://www.gocollege.com
Comprehensive resource covering college admissions, financial aid, educational options and surviving college.
http://www.google.com/options/universities.html
Google's University Search enables you to narrow your search to a specific school website. Try it for things like admissions information, course schedules, or alumni news.
http://www.knowhow2go.org
Information on college planning and preparation, applying and financial aid particularly geared for low income, first generation students.
http://www.makingitcount.com
Tips on how to organize and plan for college life. Includes playing sports, careers, and the college experience in general, all written in teen-friendly language.
http://mappingyourfuture.org
Career options and college planning from junior high through graduate school; specific sections for counselors, financial aid professionals.
http://www.mycollegeguide.org
Admissions guide, college search and common application; “Ask the Guru” section is informational.
http://www.nacacnet.org/StudentResources
The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) offers college advice and downloadable information on many topics of interest to students and parents.
http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
This site, created by the National Center for Education Statistics in the U.S. Department of Education, is a direct link to over 9,000 colleges and universities in the United States.
http://www.nextstepmagazine.com
Comprehensive new college information site from Next Step magazine.
http://system.nevada.edu
Nevada System of Higher Education.
http://www.petersons.com
Includes a way to search for colleges by major, tuition, sports and other criteria; plus help writing admissions essays, as well as test-preparation questions and information on financial aid.
http://www.petersons.com/bestcollegepicks/login.asp
Sponsored by Peterson's - includes excellent general search but also specific searches for visual and performing arts, culinary, nursing, etc.
http://www.princetonreview.com
Use the free school-match service, which can help you find the right school. Access 700-plus school applications, use free practice tests, search for scholarships and read advice on topics such as how to pay for college. Lists the annual “best value colleges”.
http://www.studentsreview.com
Read college students’ critiques of their schools.
http://www.studyabroad.com
Program and directory information for high school and college students.
http://www.supercollege.com
Search the profiles of 3,000 colleges, read winning admissions essays, get tips on filling out application forms, search a scholarship database and read timetables for preparing for college while in high school. Fee-based essay editing ($150-$300).
http://www.ucop.edu/doorways
UC Doorways to access certified course lists by high school.
http://www.ucop.edu/pathways
Start page for the University of California.
http://www.unigo.com
Take an insider’s look at college life from a student perspective with reviews, photos, videos and articles.
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/apply/apply_online.html
UC link to apply online.
http://www.uncwil.edu/stuaff/career/Majors/
What can I do with a major in….?) Site from the University of North Carolina links career to the majors available on campus.
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/welcome.html
General University of California system information
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/educators/counselors/resources.html
UC resources and materials to download.
http://www.utexas.edu/world/univ/
Lists universities, colleges and community colleges alphabetically and by state, includes links to catalogs and accrediting organizations.
http://www.videc.com
Online comprehensive videos of 18 different colleges, providing students and parents with a comprehensive look at those schools without a viewing charge.
http://www.YOUniversity.tv
Online video tours of different colleges led by students; not all schools listed have accompanying videos and not every school has a listing; no charge for viewing.
TEST REGISTRATION, INFORMATION AND PREPARATION
http://www.4tests.com
Online practice test website.
http://www.act.org
Information on the American College Testing program.
http://www.actstudent.org
Test information, search colleges by state.
http://www.apcentral.collegeboard.com
AP Central is the official online home for anyone interested in or involved with the Pre-AP or AP Programs.
http://www.collegeboard.com
The site has sections on selecting the right college, testing information, financial aid and a free search.
http://www.compassprep.com/admissions_req_subjects.aspx
SAT subject tests admissions requirements.
http://www.fairtest.org/optstate.html
Search SAT/ACT Optional 4 year universities by state.
http://www.number2.com
Free test preparation.
http://www.petersons.com
Test-preparation questions and information on financial aid.
http://www.princetonreview.com
Free practice tests, search for scholarships, advice on paying for college.
http://www.toefl.org
Find out more about the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
GENERAL INFORMATION WEBSITES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
http://www.aco.eu.com
Information on studying in an American college or university around the world. All of the universities and colleges described here are members of the CIS group of American Colleges Overseas (CIS/ACO). All offer American-style degree programs that are accredited either in the United States or have state recognition in their host countries with English as the language of instruction.
http://www.aucc.ca/publications/auccpubs/directories/dcu/dcu_e.html
Produced by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, this 664-page guide includes profiles of 94 Canadian universities with information on tuition rates, student enrollment, academic programs and degrees, and student facilities and services.
http://www.braintrack.com
A directory of the world's universities and colleges. The web site is an index of international links and an information reference for more than 10,000 higher education institutions in 194 countries.
http://www.educations.com
A comprehensive source of information about study abroad programs worldwide.
http://www.scholarstuff.com
Offers a little something for everyone: a comprehensive list of colleges from the U.S. and around the world, chat rooms, financial aid sites, and links to information on college prep exams.
Australia
http://oz.Internationalstudent.com
A guide and online portal for information, advice, help and assistance for studying in Australia.
http://www.idp.edu.au/
Another guide to studying in Australia with answers to many frequent questions.
http://www.australian-universities.com/
Good search guide to colleges in Australia with rankings.
British University System
http://www.britishcouncil.org/usa-education
A guide for students considering studying abroad or getting their undergraduate or graduate degree in the UK (England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland).
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/section/0,,716,00.html
Ranks the universities in the UK and recommends the best courses to take in order to gain employment.
education.guardian.co.uk/universityguide/0,10085,488282,00.html
The Guardian publishes a UK university guide, placing a strong emphasis on the quality of teaching at each ranked institution.
http://www.uk-universities.net/Universities
Gives colleges and universities in the UK according to one’s needs.
Canada
http://www.studyincanada.com
Find the right Canadian school for you.
India Universities
http://www.indiaedu.com
Lists educational institutions in India by areas of the country – both graduate and undergrad.
Malaysia
http://www.studymalaysia.com
An online guide to education in Malaysia that includes information on private schools, colleges and universities.
SPECIALIZED COLLEGE INFORMATION
http://www.aicad.org
Find a major or school in the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design as well as portfolio day schedules and suggestions on how to apply.
http://www.catholiccollegesonline.org
The National Catholic College Admission Association website allows you to search by region or program with links for students, parents and counselors.
http://www.fairtest.org
Site is run by National Center for Fair and Open Testing. University section includes latest on college testing and list of schools that do not use standardized tests as part of application process in the U.S.
http://www.ibo.org
Information on International Baccalaureate.
http://www.hacu.net
To improve access to and the quality of post-secondary educational opportunities for Hispanic students.
http://hbcu.com
Dedicated to providing information and services related to historically black college and universities.
http://www.hillel.org
A search guide to Jewish life on U.S. college and university campuses.
http://www.naia.org
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The association provides exclusive opportunities for over 45,000 young men and women to achieve academically while competing for the love of the game. NAIA member institutions award millions of dollars through athletic aid to eligible student-athletes.
http://www.ncaa.org
Home site of The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) which includes lists of schools by participating sport.
https://web1.ncaa.org/eligibilitycenter/common/
This site informs student athletes about the recruiting process, amateurism issues, letters of intent, eligibility rules and athletic scholarships. The student guide may be downloaded at http://www.ncaastudent.org
http://www.womenscolleges.org
Women’s College Coalition site allows you to search by college name, location and major.
COMMUNITY COLLEGE INFORMATION
http://www.cccapply.org
The online gateway to the 110 community colleges in California including a map and directory, overviews of each campus and financial aid information.
http://www.cccco.edu/CommunityColleges/tabid/830/Default.aspx
Search for California community colleges by name or region as well as vocational and certificate programs. Includes list of those colleges with dormitories.
http://www.assist.org
Transfer agreement information for all California colleges and universities
http://www.communitycollegereview.com
Community College Review lets you find free, detailed profiles of community colleges and their surrounding communities.
http://www.laocrc.com
Search for specific academic, vocational and apprenticeship programs at community colleges in Los Angeles County or Orange County.
http://www.aacc.nche.edu
The America Association of Community Colleges website helps you find a community college program anywhere in the U.S.
https://misweb.cccco.edu/webproginv/prod/invmenu.htm
From the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, search throughout the state for vocational and apprenticeship programs by college or program.
FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS
http://www.collegeanswer.com
Launched by Sallie Mae in 2000, this site helps students and their families prepare for college with information on selecting the right college, applying to college, scholarships and financial aid.
http://www.collegeboard.com
The College Board site has sections on scholarship search, financial aid easy planner, apply for a loan, calculators to estimate college costs, selecting the right college, and testing information.
http://www.collegeconfidential.com/financial_aid
Information on applying, testing, finance, campus life, evaluating college rankings, reviews of books on admissions and a special focus on Ivy League admissions.
http://www.careersandcolleges.com
College, scholarship and loan search information.
http://www.college-scholarships.com
Free scholarship and financial aid searches; ACT and SAT preparation tips and links to college admissions, scholarship and financial aid pages.
http://www.collegetoolkit.com
Information on scholarships with direct access to the applications and a variety of search categories.
http://www.csac.ca.gov
California Student Aid Commission.
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov
The website for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid takes you through the federal aid process, clearly explaining what needs to be done before, during and after you apply; learn everything from how to determine your eligibility to how to check the status of your application.
http://www.fastweb.com
Large, reliable scholarship database; big plus is that the site sends new offerings to registered users, so they don't have to keep checking the database; users create a personalized profile that's matched against 800,000 scholarships; site also provides information about applying to schools and financial aid.
http://www.finaid.com
College financial aid information, savings plans, different kinds of scholarships and loans, calculating tools to figure out how much money you'll need and help in navigating the financial-aid process.
http://www.financialaidsupersite.com
Rates various other sites and options, information on scams to avoid and how to get one-on-one financial counseling and assistance.
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/scholarship
Federal Trade Commission scholarship scam alert page with information for students and parents.
http://www.gocollege.com
Search for schools by majors and other criteria, large scholarship database, tips on financial aid, campus crime statistics, lists of hotels near campus, etc.
http://www.guaranteed-scholarships.com
Alphabetical list of colleges with their guaranteed, merit based scholarships, a short summary of each award and the matching criteria and deadlines.
http://www.hsf.net
Database of scholarships and links to financial aid sites for Hispanic students.
http://www.iefa.org
IEFA is the premier resource for financial aid, college scholarship and grant information for US and international students wishing to study abroad. At this site, you will find the most comprehensive college scholarship search and grant listings plus international student loan programs and other information to promote study abroad.
http://InternationalScholarships.com
Free site with information that can be filtered to search for scholarships, loans, internships and grants for students in the United States and abroad for use at home and overseas.
http://mappingyourfuture.org
Information on making high school count, careers and student loans.
http://money.cnn.com/pf/college/
Find the current cost of attending most colleges.
http://www.pin.ed.gov
Obtain a Personal Identification Number for FAFSA applications.
http://www.salliemae.com
Loans for all stages of education, common questions about financial aid, interest deductions, budgeting and credit.
http://www.savingforcollege.com
Resource for students and parents detailing ways to save for college including “529” accounts.
http://www.scholarshipamerica.org
The site describes and links students to different types of scholarship programs.
http://www.scholarships.com
Free college scholarship search and financial aid resource.
http://www.ScholarshipExperts.com
Search service for scholarships with customized results; includes quarterly scholarships and articles about researching and applying for college funding.
http://www.studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/student_guide/index.html
Explains student aid programs administered by U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid Office (FSA).
http://www.thepointfoundation.org
Scholarship opportunities for exceptional students, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
http://www.UNCF.org
The United Negro College Fund site includes lists of scholarship and internship opportunities; also are links to sites where students can apply for scholarships.
LEARNING DIFFERENCES
http://www.ldaamerica.org
Learning Disabilities Association of America.
http://www.nichcy.org
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities.
http://www.ldonline.org/indepth/college
LD OnLine offers hundreds of expert-reviewed articles and resources for educators, parents, and others concerned about children and adults with learning disabilities and ADHD.
http://www.college-scholarships.com/learning_disabilities.htm
List of colleges with programs for learning disabled students.
CAREER INFORMATION
http://stats.bls.gov/oco
From the Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor, the Occupational Outlook Handbook tells you: the training and education needed, earnings, expected job prospects, what workers do on the job and working conditions for hundreds of different types of jobs.
http://www.uncwil.edu/stuaff/career/Majors
“What can I do with a major in . . .?”
http://www.avscholars.com
Search for basic information on aviation careers, including college preparation and financial aid.
http://science.education.nih.gov/LifeWorks.nsf/feature
NIH sponsored website providing information for education and careers in health and medical sciences.
http://www.search4careercolleges.com
Information on career schools.
http://www.usnews.com/sections/business/best-careers
U.S. News profiles 30 careers that offer strong outlooks and high job satisfaction.
http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/sa/career/students/page17957.html
From Bowling Green State University - Self-assessment, academic and career options, relevant/practical experience, job search, school preparation.
http://www.careers.org
Comprehensive career site including career descriptions, education resources, and career colleges.
http://www.collegeboard.org/career/bin/career.pl
Comprehensive site about majors and careers. There is information on job outlooks, compensation, and colleges.
Job Search Sites
http://www.jobstar.org
http://www.monster.com
http://www.jobbankinfo.org
http://www.myfuture.com
http://www.careerbuilder.com
http://www.employmentguide.com
http://www.jobweb.org
COLLEGE RANKING WEBSITES
http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_rankings
Discusses the pros and cons of ranking colleges.
http://www.library.uiuc.edu/edx/rankings.htm
The University of Illinois has gathered links to a collection of sites that rate colleges with various criteria. The site also discusses the philosophical difficulties with the whole process of ranking colleges.
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/cohome.htm
U.S. News and World Report's yearly rankings of "America's Best Colleges." Includes tips on latest trends.
ASSOCIATIONS
http://www.schoolcounselor-ca.org
California Association of School Counselors.
RESEARCH
http://www.usc.edu/dept/chepa
Center for Higher Education Policy Analysis.
http://www.trpi.org
Tomas Rivera Policy Institute.