Tag Archives: college prep

admissions, college prep, podcasts

The Parents’ Role in College Prep (The College Checklist Podcast)

 

college checklist podcast

About a month ago I was happy to be a guest on a podcast with Lauren Gaggioli of Higher Scores Test Prep. The topic of the conversation: What is the parents’ role in college prep? For 30 minutes I shared my own family’s college prep experience and why I became a Parent College Coach.

I answered the following questions:

  • What do you see as the parent’s role in college admissions?
  • Where is the Goldilocks zone? That “just right” amount of involvement in the process?
  • What can parents do to reduce the family’s stress around the cost of college and make sure there is clarity regarding tuition responsibilities?
  • How can parent further help to reduce stress around college admissions?

If you’ve ever asked these questions or would like to hear about my college prep journey, you can listen to the podcast here:

Or download the podcast to your smartphone and listen at your own convenience.

Subscribe to The College Checklist Podcast on iTunes
Subscribe to The College Checklist Podcast on Stitcher Radio

What is a podcast: a podcast is an on-demand radio​ show that you can access online through your smartphone. They’re like a blog post or news article you can listen to at the gym, on the road, or while making dinner.

 

college prep, Wednesdays parent

Wednesday’s Parent: New Year’s Resolutions and College Prep

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new year's resolutionsI’ve never been one for New Year’s resolutions. It’s rare that we keep them. I do, however, love to review goals, examine past mistakes, and make corrections along the way. College bound students should be using this tactic all throughout high school. As each semester passes, students should evaluate these four areas of concern on a college application:

Academics

Evaluate your student’s grades every semester. Look at his test scores, his essays, his research papers and daily class work. Where can he improve? Where has he excelled? If you determine that he needs a tutor, don’t be afraid get him help.

Extracurriculars

Is your student maximizing his free time by participating in extracurriculars? Is he showing consistency? Should he be spending more time in one particular area and less time spreading himself thin? Is there a balance between school activities and community service? Where should he focus his time to show a consistent participation?

Faculty/Mentor relationships

This might be the most important area to evaluate each year. These relationships will provide your student with recommendation letters needed for the college applications. Build those relationships throughout high school, starting with your student’s high school counselor and key teachers. If your student is participating in a community service project, encourage him to find a mentor within the organization he’s working with.

Social media

Monitoring social media throughout high school is a critical task because your student’s social media presence reflects on his character. He should also establish social media relationships with the colleges he is interested in attending. Those relationships will be valuable when he submits his applications. Colleges are looking for students who express an interest in attending. These social media relationships express that interest.

As with any project, the key to its success is to evaluate your progress. Evaluation enables your student to move toward the eventual goal of applying to and being accepted at his first choice college.

Read Wendy’s post: College Prep New Year Spoiler Alert

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Wednesday’s child may be full of woe but Wednesday’s Parent can substitute action for anxiety. Each Wednesday Wendy and I will provide parent tips to get and keep your student on the college track. It’s never too late or too early to start!

The bonus is on the fourth Wednesday of each month when Wendy and I will host Twitter chat #CampusChat at 9pm ET/6pm PT. We will feature an expert on a topic of interest for parents of the college-bound.

Wednesday’s Parent will give twice the info and double the blog posts on critical parenting issues by clicking on the link at the end of the article from parentingforcollege to pocsmom.com and vice versa.

college prep, parenting, Wednesdays parent

Wednesday’s Parent: Enjoying a Break When There is No Break

 

college prepFor parents of the college bound, there’s no such thing as a break. Even when you take a break from all the college prep, your mind never shuts off. During the four years of high school, every class, every activity, every amount of free time is cultivated to present a stellar application at the beginning of the senior year. It’s the nature of the beast—all hands on deck for the college prep and then when it’s all done, you can relax. At least that’s what we tell ourselves.

But after the applications are submitted, we worry about the outcome and agonize over the decisions that will need to be made. It’s a never-ending drama that engulfs our lives if we have a student aspiring to college.

But how do you enjoy a break when there is no break?

Enjoy the ride. You have to grab snippets of time throughout the whole process. Whether it’s the car ride to visit colleges, or a 30 minute conversation in their room while they are getting dressed for a date, you have to steal those moments.

Make it a point to not allocate every waking moment to college prep. It should be an exciting time. Don’t ruin it for you and for your student by becoming a nag or a dictator. This only adds to the pressure they feel and escalates your level of frustration and stress.

Let the holidays be the holidays

If you have a senior, the holidays bring increased college prep activity—with college applications either looming or decisions waiting to be received. Set aside some time for fun when neither you nor your student discusses college prep. Even if you go to a movie or a hockey game, it takes your mind off the elephant in the room and helps you relax, even if for a short time.

The good news—this too shall pass. There will come a day when you move from college prep to college drama. If you don’t believe it, just ask any parent of a college student. College prep activities are replaced with roommate issues, annoying professors, and homesickness. Enjoy the four years while you can—they pass so quickly.

Read Wendy’s Post: 6 Ways to Prevent College Bound Burnout

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Wednesday’s child may be full of woe but Wednesday’s Parent can substitute action for anxiety. Each Wednesday Wendy and I will provide parent tips to get and keep your student on the college track. It’s never too late or too early to start!

The bonus is on the fourth Wednesday of each month when Wendy and I will host Twitter chat #CampusChat at 9pm ET/6pm PT. We will feature an expert on a topic of interest for parents of the college-bound.

Wednesday’s Parent will give twice the info and double the blog posts on critical parenting issues by clicking on the link at the end of the article from parentingforcollege to pocsmom.com and vice versa.

organization

Getting Organized: A Key Element of College Prep

 

getting organizedThere are times we all wish we were more organized. We are not born organized; quite to the contrary, organization is a learn skilled. It is imperative we help instill the life skill of organization into our children at an early age so that they may better their chances at a successful future as college students and fully functioning adults. Applying to college is an exciting and nerve-racking time for both parents and students. There are some tips and strategies to help your student get organized so he or she will posses the required skills for future success.

List making and checklist

It is never too early to start a to-do list. Utilizing checklists will help your child create and maintain their daily assignments, household chores and responsibilities. Help your child understand the benefits of writing and keeping daily and extended goals. By organizing their responsibilities into lists student can ensure tasks are completed on time and in full. By completing the check list, students also gain a sense of accomplishment and accountability. These will become necessary and vital life skills for a successful future as college students.

Applying to colleges is also a involved and complex undertaking, requiring vast amounts of paperwork and preparation. The more organized you and your child become the easier that process will become in the near future. Many schools are utilizing online tools like the ones found at www.meridianplanners.com, which offer eplanner solutions to facilitate one to one teacher and student relations. Be sure to find out if your school is using their own online 1:1 solutions or if they are using a BYOD, bring your own device, to best prepare your budding student.

Create a dedicated and organized work space

Children and students thrive in environments with set and understandable boundaries. Boundaries don’t have to stop at household rules. Creating dedicated places for study helps create an environment of success. Students often preform much better and with much more efficiency when studying in a dedicated workspace. It helps them understand that this space is for them and for study. This location doesn’t have to be in any particular place but any space dedicated to study should be quiet, consistent, and organized. This also helps create a separation between family and leisure activities, cutting down on wanted or unexpected distractions. By creating a dedicated space for study you will help condition your child/student’s mind into entering a state of calm and purpose dedicated to study. Organizing and retaining organization in the space is important. The space should be occupied only with tools and materials related to study and learning.

Dedicated set times of study

Routine is very important aspect in fostering an organized lifestyle. Students and children preform better when expectations are set. Having a consistent time dedicated to study will help your future college student organize and prioritize their time responsibly. Contrary to popular belief the best time may not be directly after school. Students need some time to decompress and unwind. Be sure to make an agreement with your child. Including them in the decision making process with help begin to make important decisions on their own. It can also become easier to make them accountable if their time agreements are not met. Be sure what ever time you both agree on leaves enough time for the work to be reviewed and completed without cutting into their sleeping or resting hours. Well rest students often out preform sleep deprived students.

When considering college

Help your child start making important considerations early. What areas of study are they most interested? Which schools specialize in these areas? What do these college look for when considering potential applicants? Every college has its own set of requirements and their own application process. Be sure you and your child begin to research each college of interest early so that they can start working toward specific goals geared to their college’s desires and requirements. Asking the right questions early can help you and your child create a plan of attack. What do their colleges of interest value beyond GPA? What types of extracurricular actives are considered most important? What steps do these college expect students accomplish during and before the application process? Organization is a key to success during this time of research and consideration. Keep separate up to-date files and folders containing all pertinent information for each school.

Understanding and keeping deadlines

When your student/child is old enough to begin thinking about applying to colleges keep on top of looming deadlines and requirements. The college application process is complicated and complex and deadlines are firm. Be sure what ever steps you took in organizing the application process includes the a calendar designed to help you prioritize and keep on top of deadlines. Having a fully inclusive calendar will help you visualize any looming deadlines and help ensure you stay current with any requirements. Many colleges require student to take standardized testing. These test also have their own deadlines and dates. It is important to include these dates into any calendar you have created.  By staying organized you can allay much of the stresses associated with the college application process.

 

college planning, college prep, Wednesdays parent

Wednesday’s Parent: College Prep in Middle School

 

college prep in middle schoolMost parents don’t begin to think about college prep until junior or senior year of high school. But the problem with that strategy is that by that time you will be at the end of the line. While I’m certainly not a proponent of ramming the thought of college down your middle schooler’s throat, I do believe there are some tasks you should do for college prep in middle school.

I recently wrote an article for TeenLife on “How to Prepare for College Before High School”. Here’s an excerpt from the aticle:

In a Forbes article about preparing for college, Director of Admissions MaeBrown said, “Start preparing for college at grade six. ”That’s when parents and students should increase the focus on the final goal after high school graduation: college.

Start planning academics

Middle school students should begin planning their academic path that will carry into high school. Meet with the school counselor and discuss the courses that can be taken in middle school to prepare for high school, especially in the math and science categories. Many middle schools offer classes that were traditionally reserved for high school students. These math classes are required to take more advanced math classes in high school and to take science classes like chemistry and physics. In addition to taking math every year in middle school, your child should take:

  • English: Every year.
  • History (including geography) and science: As many classes as possible.
  • Foreign language: Many colleges require at least two years of a language, which your child can begin in middle school.

Because college work and many jobs now require computer skills, your child should also try to take advantage of any computer science classes offered in middle and high school. He’ll gain new skills and may discover a career path.

Read, read, read

Establish an environment at home that encourages reading. Students can start adding to their vocabulary by reading diversely. Tweens should be reading all types of books, articles, blogs and news articles. This increases their vocabulary, which is a strong component in essay writing and standardized tests. While you’re at it, why not make vocabulary building a family game by learning a word a day? There are lots of free subscription services that will email a word of the day.

Partner with your child’s educators

Middle school is the time parents tend to be less involved, but it’s the very time your child needs encouragement and guidance. Meet your child’s teachers, if you haven’t already done so, and make it clear that you want to be kept up to date about any changes in your child’s work or behavior.

Go over your child’s standardized test results with the counselor to identify strengths and weaknesses. Talk to the counselor about your child’s interests to see if there are electives and extracurricular activities that will help him develop his talents. If your child needs extra help or more challenging assignments in a subject, talk to the counselor about how to arrange it.

Start working on extracurriculars

A key ingredient in the college application is extracurriculars. Begin looking at areas that interest your child in middle school. Try out some volunteering, connect with a mentor for an internship, and explore hobbies and interests. If your child enters high school committed to one activity, it will be much easier to carry that through the next four years.

Read Wendy’s post: 3 Ways to Prep Middleschoolers for College Prep

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Wednesday’s child may be full of woe but Wednesday’s Parent can substitute action for anxiety. Each Wednesday Wendy and I will provide parent tips to get and keep your student on the college track. It’s never too late or too early to start!

The bonus is on the fourth Wednesday of each month when Wendy and I will host Twitter chat #CampusChat at 9pm ET/6pm PT. We will feature an expert on a topic of interest for parents of the college-bound.

Wednesday’s Parent will give twice the info and double the blog posts on critical parenting issues by clicking on the link at the end of the article from parentingforcollege to pocsmom.com and vice versa.

admissions, college planning, mom approved tips, organization

Mom-Approved Tips: 7 Most Common Organizational Mistakes During the College Application Process

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college prepGaining admission to your college of choice is going to take some time and effort. However, with so much else happening in your life, making sure that you stay on top of the college application process can be a challenge. Avoid these seven common pitfalls so that you can beat the last minute rush.

1. Not Having a Plan

Basic as this may sound, you need to know when your deadlines are and when you are going to make time to complete each step of the application process. OK, so you know that you need to write your essays. When are you going to brainstorm? When are you going to create an outline? Don’t simply write down that you need to have it completed “no later than” a particular date. Dedicate time within your schedule to get these things accomplished and stick to it.

2. Assuming That You Have All the Information You Need

As you complete the application process, you’ll probably need to look up some information that you may not have readily available. What is the physical address of your employer or place of volunteer service? Do they want your immediate supervisor’s phone number or should you use the phone number of a central office that can verify your information? What was the name of that youth director — who no longer attends your church — who coordinated your service trip to Guatemala? It may take a few phone calls and some time for people to get back to you, so start now.

3. Not Knowing All of the Steps

Strong as your reading comprehension skills may be, read through the application again and make sure that you understand all of the steps you need to complete it. If you overlook a step and wait until the last minute, you may not be able to submit your application because pieces are missing. Double-checking now can save you a lot of stress in the long run.

4. Not Asking for Recommendations Early

As stated above, it may take you some time to get into contact with people. Also, they’re going to need to find time in their busy schedules to write a recommendation for you. Moreover, the people you want to write your recommendation are probably going to get quite a few requests and not be able to accept them all. Improve your odds by asking early. Expecting that a person will help you and expecting them to help you at the last minute could leave you a recommendation short.

5. Procrastinating on the Essays

This is probably the most famous of the mistakes that applicants make in the college admissions process. Don’t fall into this stereotype or this trap. Exciting as it might be to complete your essays just in the nick of time, quality will suffer. Good essays take time.

6. Thinking Everything Will Go Smoothly

It won’t. You might get turned down by a potential recommender. You might get saddled with an extra project the same week you planned to write your essays. The very day you had hoped to work on gathering information might be the day that you come down with the flu. Life will continue to happen as you progress through the application process, so create a cushion in your schedule for when things don’t go according to plan.

7. Not Reaching Out

Bring everyone possible in on your goal: family, friends, guidance counselors, supervisors, etc. Let the people in your life know where you’re at in the process and seek help immediately if you feel lost or get behind. The longer you wait, the worse it will be when you finally do reach out to others. There’s nothing wrong with saying that you don’t understand a certain step in the process or don’t know how to complete a step. Finally, discussing the process and the personal milestones you have set will help keep you focused and on track.

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Today’s Guest Blogger 
Ryan Hickey is the Managing Editor of Peterson’s & EssayEdge and is an expert in many aspects of college, graduate, and professional admissions. A graduate of Yale University, Ryan has worked in various admissions capacities for nearly a decade, including writing test-prep material for the SAT, AP exams, and TOEFL, editing essays and personal statements, and consulting directly with applicants.

college guidance, college planning, college prep, Uncategorized, Wednesdays parent

Wednesday’s Parent: Are You Afraid of College Prep?

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afraid of college prepAre you afraid of college prep? If you’re not, you’re one of the few. Parents, while excited about the prospects of college, are frightened by the actual process. What frightens them most? Any number of tasks: the overwhelming mounds of forms and paperwork, how to pay for the high cost of the education, being out of control and not knowing how colleges will receive their student, and the biggie—will your student be rejected.

In order to avoid giving in to the fear, you need to change your thinking. While colleges might give you the impression they have the power, they do not. It’s ultimately your teen’s choice for which college to apply to and which college to attend. It’s ultimately your choice which financial aid award you accept. You are the consumer. The key is in how your student markets himself to the college and how he takes control of the process.

Here are 3 tips to help calm you fears:

This is just another phase in the life your child.

In the midst of it all, it seems like an insurmountable task. It is all consuming and appears to be a “life changing” decision. Yes. College is important. But it is just the beginning of the choices your child will have to make in this life. And nothing, I mean nothing, is carved in stone. Wrong college choice? In the grand scheme of life, it’s not the critical. It’s the education that matters and how your child embraces the learning.

There will be a good fit college for your child—a college that values their contribution.

It’s not about the name, but about the fit. With a little research, a little coaching, and some digging, there is a college that fits your child like a glove. It may not be an Ivy (and probably won’t), but it will be the place they feel welcome and at home. Find that and you’ve hit the jackpot.

While there may be rejections along the way, there will also be many opportunities to learn life lessons.

No parent likes to see their child rejected. But it’s a reality of life. Everyone is going to be rejected at some point and the college process is no different. It’s how you handle the rejections that matter. It’s the life lessons you can teach them that will stay with them after they go away to college. And I say this with all certainty—everything happens for a reason. Sometimes College B or College C is a much better fit, and will make your child happier in the long run.

Once you’re done, you’ll be an expert and can help other set aside their fears. What is it Roosevelt said? The only thing we have to fear is fear itself (and of course college prep).

Read Wendy’s Post: 4 College Prep Nightmare Scenarios

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Wednesday’s child may be full of woe but Wednesday’s Parent can substitute action for anxiety. Each Wednesday Wendy and I will provide parent tips to get and keep your student on the college track. It’s never too late or too early to start!

Join @pocsmom and I tonight with a #WednesdaysParent version of #CampusChat at 9PM ET with guest Paul Hemphill (@vcollegeadvisor) of Planning for College, discussing the scary side of college prep.

Wednesday’s Parent will give twice the info and double the blog posts on critical parenting issues by clicking on the link at the end of the article from parentingforcollege to pocsmom.com and vice versa.

college prep, Wednesdays parent

Wednesday’s Parent: 6 Emotional College Prep Tasks

 

college prepIt’s no surprise the middle name of college-bound teens is “stress”. According to a recent survey, 76 percent of college-bound students say they are stressed. If you live with one, you’re stressed too; and not just you, but your family as well. Granted, there are plenty of reasons to be stressed. And plenty of reasons why it’s impossible to avoid feeling stress (try as you might). Add to the stress emotional teenagers and parents and you have volatile home environment.

Following are 6 emotional college prep tasks and how to keep from freaking out. Yes, freaking out.

The Grades

Grades mean everything. Your student’s GPA is one of the most important components of the college application (if not THE most important). It’s understandable that your kid will stress over receiving B’s instead of A’s on their papers. They know that the college they want to attend looks at grades, classes, and GPA’s carefully before making an offer of admission.

What can you do? Create a positive study environment and don’t add to the pressure. If you see them struggling, get help. Let them know that all you expect from them is they do their best, nothing more.

The College Visits

Any parent who has been on a college visit with their teen will attest to the emotional roller coaster that often ensues. Your kid may balk at the thought of getting out of the car, cringe at the fact that his/her parents are there along with them, and freak knowing they have an interview scheduled.

What can you do? Take a chill pill before you head out and remember your kid is most likely terrified. This is a huge step for them and emotions are going to play a big part in the visits, even though you might see it as a critical step in the plan. Give them the freedom to express those emotions.

The Standardized Tests

Testing in itself is stressful. But standardized tests are incredibly stressful. It’s a timed test that affects the outcome of offers of admission. Scores are compared with other students and some consider them to be bragging material. A low score means less options for college; a high score opens more doors.

What can you do? Under no circumstances should you nag your student about studying. Help them study. Encourage them to study. Provide tutoring. If the pressure is off, they will do better on the tests. Too much pressure (especially from parents) with students who are stressed already, will affect their ability to focus and relax on test day.

The College Choices

Making decisions is stressful without the added pressure of the impact of this one decision on your kid’s future. They may act calm, cool and collected, but they feel the pressure to make the right college choices. The schools they choose will be evaluating them on their merit and overall success academically.

What can you do? Let them make their own choices. Guide but do not put your foot down and tell them they can only attend your alma mater or a college close to home. They need to make the choice themselves because they will be attending the college for the next four years. If they don’t like it, they won’t be happy and stay when struggles come.

The Money

Money concerns always produce mounds of stress. With the economy in disarray, that stress is compounded when families are trying to pay for college. When deciding on college choices, money should always be a factor. If your student knows what you can afford to contribute and what is expected of them, the stress will be minimal. Keep them in the dark and there could be added stress and disappointment when they apply to a school that is not financially doable.

According to The Princeton Review’s 2013 “College Hopes & Worries Survey”—an annual poll of college applicants and parents of applicants—stress levels are up while cost remains a driving factor in college selection. In fact, 79 percent said the state of the economy has affected their decisions about college—up 4 percent from 2012.

What can you do? Make time to talk about money with your kid. Hoping your student will get a full ride scholarship is not realistic. You need to plan for the worst (little or no aid) and hope for the best (multiple scholarships and merit aid). If the college choices fall into your family’s ability to pay, when the financial aid award arrives it will be a much more pleasant experience. Especially if lack of money to pay does not affect the final decision.

The Waiting

This is probably the most stressful time in your kid’s life, which means it is stressful for the parents as well. One student puts it simply:

Because as decision day draws closer, and the (rather strong) possibility of rejection becomes more and more pronounced, I can’t help but think that my process, that my life, is entirely out of my hands. I know it’s irrational — I know that I’m still the one who will make the ultimate decision, that I’m the one who will decide what my future holds. But that’s my point — I’m not rational anymore. I’m just afraid.

What can you do? Celebrate the accomplishment of applying and provide distractions during the months of waiting. Reiterate that you will be proud of them and no matter what the outcome it’s not the end of the world. Rejection is tough on these teens, but strong parent support can help them see that there are always options available and sometimes disappointments turn into blessings.

The ultimate goal is to have a stress free household and to avoid freaking out. This is probably impossible but keeping the “freaking” to a minimum will help your student reduce their stress. Stay calm and breathe. It will all be over soon.

Read Wendy’s Post: Emotion Management 101

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Wednesday’s child may be full of woe but Wednesday’s Parent can substitute action for anxiety. Each Wednesday Wendy and I will provide parent tips to get and keep your student on the college track. It’s never too late or too early to start!

The bonus is on the fourth Wednesday of each month when Wendy and I will host Twitter chat #CampusChat at 9pm ET/6pm PT. We will feature an expert on a topic of interest for parents of the college-bound.

Wednesday’s Parent will give twice the info and double the blog posts on critical parenting issues by clicking on the link at the end of the article from parentingforcollege to pocsmom.com and vice versa.

college guidance, mom approved tips, parenting

Mom-Approved Tips: How Early is Too Early to Prepare for College?

 

prepare for collegeHow early is too early to prepare for college? We’ve all seen those movie clips where the parents are agonizing over the right preschool to prepare their kids for the right kindergarten, the right grade school, and the right college preparatory school. These overachieving parents are convinced that college prep begins at birth. They take it to a whole other level elevating college jerseys into full blown college prep. But just how early is too early and how far should parents go when preparing their children for college?

With competition for college admission becoming stronger, parents are recognizing the need to begin college prep early. That doesn’t mean that you start drilling college into your toddler’s head (although some parents have been known to do this). It does mean that you begin a foundation for their education that will carry them into high school and eventually into college.

Looking at the three phases of education (elementary school, middle school and high school), what should parents do to prepare their students for college?

Elementary School

When discussing college prep, most of the discussions start in middle school and the steps begin when a student is in high school. But for a student to be truly prepared for college, parents should begin talking about it, thinking about it, and discussing it as early as elementary school.

Start talking about the value of education

Begin talking about the importance of education when your child enters kindergarten. The first seven years of education are filled with learning fundamental skills and gaining knowledge. This is the foundation of all future education. If your child loves school, excels in school, and is motivated to study and achieve excellence, the logical progression will be to continue their education by going to college.

Start talking about college

The opportunities that a college education provides can be relayed to your children during the early years of education.

For example, if your child is interested in dinosaurs, parents should talk about how people that research and recover dinosaur bones had to go to college first to learn how it’s done. Or if he is interested in space, discuss how scientists and astronauts go to college to learn the skills they need to work in that field. A child’s enthusiasms are the perfect opportunities to start a discussion about how college is key to pursuing and following those interests.

Your student might also be interested in pursuing an education online, like this online BSW (Bachelor of Social Work) offered by Spring Arbor University. There are many opportunities available for your student to pursue a Bachelor’s degree online.

Visit colleges with the family

Visiting college isn’t just for teenagers. Many universities provide campus tours and visiting days when a staff member will guide a grade school class, or other group of children, around the campus and explain the unique and exciting things they can do when they grow up and go to college. Parents can also schedule outings with their children to the college or university from which they graduated. The important thing is to make college sound interesting, exciting and accessible.

Read more college prep tips from TeenLife for middle school and high school students

admissions, websites

50 More College Prep Websites

19 Comments

 

college prep websites
Recently I posted an updated version of 56 college info websites. Following are 50 more college prep websites to help with college prep and more.

Financial Aid

1. http://www.howtopayforcollegehq.com – Weekly podcast to help parents pay for college using debt free strategies.
2. https://collegeabacus.com – A financial aid calculator to help compare college net price calculators and determine the cost of college.
3. http://costoflearning.com – This tool gives college applicants and their families insight and clarity into understanding the TRUE cost of college.
4. http://www.collegemoneyman.com – A podcast with information for parents and students about financial aid and scholarships.
5. http://www.financialaidletter.com – Read real college financial aid award letters and get tips on decoding and translating them.
6. http://www.customcollegerankings.com – A powerful yet easy-to-use tool to help find and compare colleges.

College Searches

7. http://www.collegemeasures.org – Makes available key data through websites enabling users to make smarter college decisions.
8. https://statfuse.com – This tool helps students determine their chances of getting in to a specific college.
9. http://www.ctcl.org – College That Change Lives supports a student-centered college search process providing information on colleges that indeed change lives.
10. http://collegelists.pbworks.com/ – Wiki lists of all kinds of search criteria about the college search.
11. http://www.collegedata.com – An online tool to search for colleges, calculate your chances, track admissions, search for scholarships and more.
12. http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ – Get all the data and information on colleges before you make your college list.
13. http://www.collegeview.com/index.jsp – A search engine allowing you to choose specific categories related to college and gather information for the college list.
14. http://www.collegefactual.com – Find a college and a major that fits your student with an affordable degree you can use.
15. http://www.ratemyprofessors.com – Search and rate professors and scope out new ones for the upcoming semester; explore comprehensive database for school ratings, reviews and more.

College Planning

16. http://www.parenttoolkit.com – A toolkit that helps parents keep track of their child’s educational journey from PreK through high school.
17. http://www.sreducationgroup.org – Comprehensive information for students about their options for school.
18. http://www.ubind.co – A site where you can tour universities, bind with recruiters and plan for college.
19. http://www.college-connections.com – Expert college advice and educational consulting services to empower students for admissions success.
20. http://collegeappwizard.com – This tool walks you through each step of the college planning process and helps you organize all the information in one location.
21. http://collegeprepready.com – A college success coach that helps parents and students transition into college, providing them with tools to enter college prep with a competitive edge.
22. http://jlvcollegecounseling.com – College counselor who helps families through the college admission process.
23. http://www.collegeright.com – Helps students become savvy college shoppers and empower them to take control of the application process.
24. http://collegeconnect.info – Personalized college planning, guidance and support.
25. http://www.ivywise.com – Admissions counseling empowering students to reach their academic goals.
26. http://www.sixstepcollegeapplication.com – Admissions counseling with free downloads for parents and an excellent blog.
27. http://internationalcollegecounselors.com – Personalized college advice and counseling.
28. http://www.bestcollegefit.com – Advice for parents and students from an expert offering a blog, events and workshops.

Test Prep / Tutors

29. http://directhitseducation.com – Books and course to help prepare you for standardized tests.
30. http://www.edupath.com – An online test prep service that lets parents follow their teen’s training and progress.
31. http://www.mytowntutors.com – A tutoring resource for parents and a place where tutors can register.
32. http://preppedandpolished.com – In person or online tutoring and test prep to help with college admissions.
33. https://grockit.com – An online test prep service for students with personalized learning and analysis.
34. https://benchprep.com – Test prep platform offering interactive courses and personalized learning.

Scholarship Searches

35. http://scholarshipopportunity.org – A series of books and a search tool that features a comprehensive list of scholarships, internships, and fellowships for all demographics.
36. https://www.scholarshipexperts.com – A scholarship directory and search engine to help parents and students find free college money.

Essays

37. http://www.collegeessayorganizer.com – A search tool that delivers essay topics and helps students organize all essay questions in one place.
38. http://www.collegeessayguy.com – Free resources, one-on-one essay sessions, online webinars, and in-person workshops to help with the college essay.

Social Media

39. http://www.socialassurity.com – Helps teens, college students and athletes optimize their online presence.

Parent Information, Advice and Blogs

40. http://www.road2college.com – A blog for parents giving the scoop on college admissions and financing.
41. http://teenlife.com – Their mission is to help teens and their parents find and participate in meaningful learning opportunities (also provide an excellent blog with topics related to college prep)
42. http://knowsymoms.com – A place for college parents and pre-college parents to gather and read stories and advice from other parents. and get college advice.
43. http://www.collegeadmissionbook.com – Great information for parents and students about college admissions.
44. http://www.pocsmom.com – Expert insider advice from a parent on college prep and the parent role in the process.
45. http://www.morethanatestscore.com – A must read blog from Zinch for parents and students who are heading to college.
46. http://blog.thecollegeplanninggroup.com – Excellent blog with information for parents and students about college admissions.
47. http://www.collegeparents.org – A place for parents of the college-bound to ask and find answers about the college prep process.
48. http://www.harlancohen.com – Get advice from the author of several books about college and a mini-course for parents.

Textbooks

49. http://simplebookswap.com – Buy, sell and swap used  textbooks with local students.

Study Abroad

50. http://www.semesteratsea.org – A multiple country study abroad program with credits that transfer to college.