This accessible white paper reviews and synthesizes key research to address the questions and concerns Challenge Success most often hears from students and parents. Summary::(1) Rankings are problematic. (2) College selectivity is not a reliable predictor of student learning, job satisfaction, or well-being. (3) Engagement in college is more impotant than where you attend.
A blog post about the college admissions process and how we can reshape the conversations we have with students to lessen the pressure and prioritize the right fit. Author: Douglas Tsoi. “Despite the prevalent messaging out there, your choice of college won’t determine your life. This is true despite what you might hear from your peers, parents, teachers, the media, and even your own fears. College is an important step. But it’s not going to make you, and it’s not going to break you. Everything is going to be OK, no matter where you go.” Presented by Challenge Success
Use this college search database to find your perfect college match. Search all colleges, or search by ranking, by identity group (HBCUs, LGBTQIA, Women's colleges, and more), by location, or by academic requirements.
This website allows you to select features about schools and they will provide a list. Great for quick facts about a particular school. The academic profile of a college's freshman class, financial aid and merit aid stats, available majors, and much more can be easily retrieved. BigFuture is the College Board's college planning website for students and parents.
In-depth college and university profiles that provide admission stats, plus valuable info on student life, academics, cost and more. Over 22 million forum posts across thousands of topics related to college planning and selection, chances for admission, and campus life. Over 10,000 articles full of tried-and-true admissions tips, insider advice on searching for schools, and college essay and test prep support.
This site includes tools that let you search colleges, create a college list, estimate chances of acceptance, search for scholarships, track admissions and financial aid, and more.
The graphics aren't slick, but this US Department of Education website contains more data on the nation's colleges and universities than anyplace else on the Internet. Using the College Navigator's school search engine, students can scour the country for schools based on different criteria. Presented by IES-NCES (Institute of Education Sciences - National Center for Education Statistics).
This site provides college search options and lists that can help students identify and explore colleges by major, location and a variety of other criteria. Easily search for scholarships by keyword, various academic filters, or by a number of different categories, like art, club, disability, family, college major, military, National Merit, race, religion, society, sport, or type.
Corsava provides students and families with a better way to approach the important choice of where to go to college. Based on a simple set of questions that can be completed in less than 15 minutes, the platform uses over 130,000 data points to match students’ deeper preferences with colleges where they can thrive and graduate.
Offers inside reviews by current students to give you insight into colleges you may be considering. Users can filter their searches by general area of study, college major, average cost after financial aid, student body size, specialty (Liberal arts, All-women, All-men, HBCU, Hispanic-serving institutions), test scores, selectivity, and other factors. The site also provides information on college rankings and finding scholarships.
From tips on how to win college scholarships, to ACT/SAT prep, college admissions advice, how to find easy scholarships and other important financial aid information the articles and scholarship search tools on Unigo cover it all. Dive in to find out all you need to know about deciding which college is right for you, and how to prepare for attending that college.
CollegeIQ is an online platform that makes it easier for high school students and their parents to discover colleges that will be a good fit for them. Unique to CollegeIQ is the ability to filter colleges based on culture and lifestyle factors like weather, local laws, politics, and more. Research college costs three different ways: Net Price (the amount paid by those who qualify for need-based aid), Merit Price (the amount typically paid after merit scholarships by those without financial need) or List Price (the full amount the school says it costs to attend without aid).
Shopping for Schools & Making the Final Choice - "We Need to Talk College"
In a video, Beth Kobliner explains to narrow down a list of schools your kid loves—and you can afford. The 'You Better Shop Around' page offers tips on how to shop smart . A video shows Cristella and Ismael - A daughter and her dad, an immigrant from Mexico, with reflections on looking at schools as a first-generation student. The We Need to Talk College website is presented by Beth Kobliner, an author and commentator and journalist on money issues.
In a video, Beth Kobliner explains how to choose a school that makes you and your kid happy. The 'Selecting the Right School' page gives tips on what to do in those few weeks you have in April to figure out what school works best for you, your child, and your budget. A video shows Emelie and Maria - A daughter and mom discuss the compromises involved when choosing between two New York schools. The We Need to Talk College website is presented by Beth Kobliner, an author and commentator and journalist on money issues.
A guide to American students considering enrolling in a college or university abroad and studying for a bachelor's degree. Covers colleges and programs in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Europe (including Germany, France, Spain, among other countries), Australia, Singapore, and China. Author: Paul Hockenos, New York Times News Service.
Written for parents and families of college-bound students, this book is the one tool they'll need to navigate the complex (and often emotional) challenge of getting their daughters or sons into--and through--college. From early childhood to setting up their dorm room, this book provides parents with insights, wisdom, and guidance about college (what it is and why it is a valuable experience), college preparation (including both academic and financial), and choosing a college (how to understand not only the process but also the right fit and value). Letters written by college and educational professionals, all with their own college-aged children, frame and illuminate each chapter. The letters offer advice about preparation for college gleaned from personal and professional experiences. Undergirded by research but informed by many years of experience, Dear Parents is designed to both engage and inform parents.
Presents a guide to one hundred colleges in the United States, written for students, by students, providing in-depth reviews of each school, including information on applying, getting in, and surviving freshman year.
Dear Parents: A Field Guide for College Preparation by 
The Definitive Guide to America's Top 100 Schools Written by the Real Experts--The Students Who Attend Them by 
Colleges That Change Lives by