MCOE College Access Information

Below are sources that you will find helpful for your college-bound students

Check these sources for online college information:

• Mapping Your Future http://mappingyourfuture.org/planyourcareer/

• Peterson's Planner http://www.petersons.com/

• Best College Picks http://www.petersons.com/bestcollegepicks/login.asp?ut=

• The Princeton Review http://www.princetonreview.com/home.asp

• Colleges.com http://www.colleges.com/

• CollegeNET http://www.collegenet.com/ - research schools all over the country.  Search by majors, locations, and requirements.

If you want to go to college in California, check with:

• http://www.csumentor.edu/ for state colleges

• www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/ for statewide application for universities.

• http://www.cccapply.org - learn about and apply for California community colleges.

• http://www.aiccu.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=95&Itemid=43 for independent colleges and universities

• http://www.assist.org/ Statewide transfer information for California (includes detailed information about transferable courses for all UC's and CSU's). 

• http://www.californiacolleges.edu/ - research different private and public California schools.  Get information about financial aid and different careers.

• http://www.studyincalifornia.com/ - A comprehensive reference for California schools with thorough information for foreign students and recent immigrants.

College Entrance Exams:

• College Board:  http://www.collegeboard.com/ - Information and registration for SAT test and AP exam; College search engine

• ACT, Inc:  http://www.act.org/ - Information and registration for ACT; College and career information

• TOEFL:  www.ets.org/toefl - Information and registration for TOEFL 

• Free test prep:  http://www.number2.com/ - Free test prep practice for ACT, SAT, & GRE

• Kaplan:  http://www.kaplan.com/ - Pay for test preparation

• The Study Hall:  http://www.studyhall.com/ - Free online SAT test prep

• Online Practice Test Site:  http://www.4tests.com/ - Online test practice for SAT, ACT, GED, GRE, AP, and many more tests.

Financial Aid

Learn about student loans, grants and other financial aid opportunities and filling-out your federal financial aid application online:

• FAFSA on the web http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ - this is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

• Department of Education PIN:  http://www.pin.ed.gov/ - Register for PIN for easy online transaction for FAFSA.

• CSS Profile:  http://profileonline.collegeboard.com/index.jsp - Register and complete financial aid application (in addition to the FAFSA) for selected private colleges.

• Calgrants http://www.calgrants.org/ - learn about Calgrants and get information about upcoming financial aid events.

• California Student Aid Commission http://www.csac.ca.gov/ - download a copy of Calgrant GPA Verification form.  Also, you can check the progress of your Calgrant verification.

• EdFund http://www.edfund.org/ - has information about college planning, paying for college, and career exploration.

• SmartStudent Guide to Financial Aid & Information http://www.finaid.org/ - financial aid and scholarship informational site and learn how to detect and report financial aid scams.

• FastWeb http://www.fastweb.com/ - scholarship search engine and signup for scholarship updates.

• Scholarships.com http://www.scholarships.com/ - scholarship search engine and signup for scholarship updates.

• Saving For College http://www.savingforcollege.com/ - information about 529 plans -tax deductible college saving plans

• United Negro College Fund http://www.uncf.org/ForStudents/scholarship.asp

• Native American Education Programs http://www.oiep.bia.edu/ - information about scholarships for Native Americans

• California Chafee Grants http://www.chafee.csac.ca.gov/ - learn about new grants for youth who are or were in foster care.

• Creating Options for Students with Disabilities http://www.heath.gwu.edu/ - an online publication that includes disability-related college expenses and suggestions for college financial planning.

Career/Major Exploration Resources 

• Occupational Outlook Handbook www.bls.gov/oco - research different types of jobs.

• Career Compass:  http://www.careervoyages.org/ - explore and research different career paths.

• O*Net (Occupational Information Network): http://online.onetcenter.org/ - research on various occupations.

• ASSIST'S Major Explorer

• UC Berkeley's "What Can I Do with a Major in...?"

• UC Irvine's "Myths & Facts"

College & Career Combination Websites:

• Xap Student Center:  www.xap.com - includes college information (esp. on-line college application for many colleges throughout the U.S.) and career exploration and assessment information.

• The Princeton Review: http://www.princetonreview.com/ - includes college and career information and SAT preparation workshops.

• Quintessential Careers:  http://www.quintcareers.com/ - information and articles on college, career, and job search.