+100 College Planning Resources
Why these resources?
- They are the most effective tools we have found.
- Most of them are FREE!
- As we learn about and test new resources, we will add them to this page.
- Let us know if you have a valuable resource to add to our list.
- Some of the resources have affiliate links. If you use the link, we'll get a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Click on a link to be taken directly to that specific resource. You can always click on the up arrow to return to the menu.
- College Preparation Timeline
- Major and Career Assessments
- College Search Books and Websites
- Personal Development Course and Books
- Essay Prompt Websites and Guidance
- Application Websites (Common App, Coalition App, and U of CA App)
- College Admissions Info Websites
- Financial Aid and Scholarship Books and Websites
- Student-Athlete Resources
- Vocational Websites
- PSAT Prep Books and Online Courses
- SAT and ACT Test Registration
- SAT Prep Books and Online Courses
- ACT Prep Books and Online Courses
- AP Exam Prep Books and Tutoring
- First-Year College Survival Books
COLLEGE PREPARATION TIMELINE
Freshman Year
- Academic Preparation
- Personal Development
- Extracurricular Pursuits
- Application Awareness
- Financial Awareness
Sophomore Year
- Academic Prep and Goals
- Personal Development
- Extracurricular Goals
- Application Readiness
- Financial Goals
Junior
Year
- Academic Acheivement
- Personal Development
- Extracurriculars
- Application Prep
- Financial Plan
Senior Year
- Academic Success
- Personal Development
- Extracurricular Success
- Application Success
- Financial Arrangements
All Four Years
- Academic Goals
- Personal Development
- Extracurricular Goals
- Application Preparation
- Financial Awareness
MAJOR and CAREER ASSESSMENTS
Major Match Quiz
- 5-minute quiz used by millions
- Based on the Five-Factor Model
- Used by US News and World Report
- Comprehensive results report
- Reveals careers that fit you!
My Next Move Assessment
- Discovers what you want to do
- Search careers by keywords
- Browse careers by industry
- Determine your major interests
- Created by the Dept. of Labor
My Majors Assessment
- 15-minute major assessment
- Recommends best fit
- Matches academic achievement
- Matches aptitude and interests
- Accounts for your preferences
Princeton Career Quiz
- 10-minute major assessment
- 24-question survey
- Provides featured colleges
- Provides career interest options
- Shares career insights
Roadtrip Nation Assessment
- Captures your major interests
- Provides major options
- Includes job and salary information
- Includes video information
- Provides career insights
Me 3 Career Assessment
- Image-based assessment
- Provides major options to study
- Shares potential career pathways
- Determines major requirements
- Provided by Arizona State Univ.
- 22-minute major assessment
- Provides career options
- Reviews your interests
- Provides personal strength insights
- Shares career insights
123 Career Assessment
- 10-minute major assessment
- 15 image-based questions
- Provides best-fit majors
- Occupations to fit your interests
- Shares your career personality
COLLEGE SEARCH BOOKS and WEBSITES
Big Future
- Find the right college for you
- Build a list of schools
- Create your personal plan
Cappex
- Research schools
- Determine where you best fit
- Explore your scores/school fit
Niche
- Search schools that best fit you
- The good, the bad, and the honest
- Includes SAT ranges and costs
NCES Navigator
- Select a college by location
- Determine specific costs
- Create and interactive map
- Compare colleges by GPA
- Application deadlines
- Highest acceptance rates
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSE and BOOKS
Comprehensive Self-Discovery Course
- Students gain the transformation of clarity, confidence and control over their future.
- The course starts with a 60-minute Zoom consultation with the creators of the College Flight Plan program.
- The course includes a Parent Facilitator Guide to ensure course completion.
- Students utilize 66 micro-learning videos that correspond to a workbook.
- Students discover their strengths and weaknesses via survey feedback from people they trust and take assessments to discover their career options and college majors.
- Students develop a Purpose Statement and discover how to live by their values and apply their natural abilities.
- Students determine their life goals and create a compelling elevator speech.
- They use all of this personal awareness to create memorable application essays.
Watch this 3-minute video for an overview
of the course content.
- Personal health
- Making goals and keeping them
- Money and budgeting
ESSAY PROMPT WEBSITES and GUIDANCE
Do-It-Yourself Essay Ebook
- Learn exactly what colleges are looking for in application essays
APPLICATION WEBSITES
Common Application
- Accepted by over 900 colleges
- Can create an account in August
- Shows supplemental essay prompts
Coalition Application
- Free online planning tools
- Application fee waivers
- Shows all essay prompts
University of California
- One application for all 9 branches
- Requires four 350-word essays
- How To Apply
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS INFO WEBSITES
College Data
- Estimate your admissions chances
- College cost tools
- Comprehensive resources
NCES Navigator
- Find the right college for you
- Build a list of schools
- Create and interactive map
- Advice on how to plan for college
- Advice on how to pay for college
- Offers career exploration
CAPPEX
- Get insight into your target schools
- Scholarship options
- Find your admissions chances
FINANCIAL AID and SCHOLARSHIP BOOKS and WEBSITES
FAFSA
- Direct link to apply
- Find FAFSA deadlines per state
- Comprehensive FAFSA resources
- Scholarship search database
- Determine eligibility to funds
- Application deadlines highlighted
- Find the right scholarship for you
- Scholarship search database
- Find the best college fit
- National Merit Requirements
- Types of awards explained
- Competition Steps FAQ
College ROI
- College Return on Investment
- Compare each college's return
- Determine average loan amount
STUDENT-ATHLETE RESOURCES
NCAA Eligibility Guidebook
- 40-page pdf
- High school timeline
- Includes recruiting calendars
- 250 colleges across the U.S.
- Awards athletes full/partial grants
- Emphasises character building
NCSA Sports Program
- Create your recruiting profile
- Finds college match for athletes
- Robust resources for the family
VOCATIONAL WEBSITES
My Next Move Assessment
- Find the best job for you!
- Browse careers that interest you
- Complete a career-fit assessment
Become an Apprentice
- Why become an apprentice?
- Find available apprenticeships
- Comprehensive resources
- Explore careers that interest you
- Find a local American Job Center
- Comprehensive career videos
Discover Your Future
- Find training programs
- Compare training programs
- Meet with a career advisor
PSAT PREP BOOKS and ONLINE COURSES
Princeton Review
- 18 hours of live PSAT instruction
- Video lessons reviewing key strategies
- 5 full-length practice tests
- 2,000 practice questions
Prep Scholar
- Score improvement guarantee
- +100 hours of PSAT lessons
- +7100 realistic practice questions
- Explanations for every question
SAT and ACT TEST REGISTRATION
SAT Dates and Deadlines
- Review the test dates and times
- Check for the deadlines
- Register online
ACT Dates and Deadlines
- Review the test dates and times
- Check for the deadlines
- Register online
SAT ACT Optional Schools
- Find schools with test-optional policies
- Check for updates
- Latest news
SAT PREP BOOKS and ONLINE COURSES
Prep Expert
- SAT score improvement guarantee
- 8-Week Prep Course
- 6-Week Prep Course
- 4-Week Prep Course
- Self-paced video course
Princeton Review
- SAT score improvement guarantee
- 18 hours of expert-led instruction
- Customized study plans
- 3 proctored practice tests
- 23 additional full-length tests
Prep Scholar
- SAT score improvement guarantee
- Complete online course
- +210 hours of content
- Group classes with experts
- Complete course plus tutoring
ACT PREP BOOKS and ONLINE COURSES
Prep Expert
- ACT score improvement guarantee
- Tutors scored in top 1% on ACT
- 8-Week Prep Course
- 6-Week Prep Course
- Self-paced Video Course
Princeton Review
- ACT score improvement guarantee
- 18 hours of expert-led instruction
- Customized study plans
- 3 proctored practice tests
- 8 additional full-length tests
Prep Scholar
- ACT score improvement guarantee
- Complete online course
- +60 hours of content
- Group classes with experts
- Complete course plus tutoring
AP EXAM PREP BOOKS and TUTORING
AP Physics 1
- 5 full-length practice exams
- Thorough content review
- Targeted test strategies
AP English
- 7 full-length practice tests
- Complete content review
- Strategies and techniques to use
- 6 full-length practice tests
- Proven techniques for success
- Complete content review
AP European History
- 6 full-length practice tests
- Proven techniques for success
- Complete content review
AP Geography
- 6 full-length practice tests
- Proven techniques for success
- Premium online extras
AP Chemistry
- 7 full-length practice tests
- Complete content review
- Strategies and techniques to use
- 6 full-length practice tests
- Proven techniques for success
- Premium online extras
AP Computer Science
- 3 full-length practice tests
- Proven techniques for success
- Complete content review
Prep Expert
- Score improvement guarantee
- Tutors scored in top 1% on ACT
- 8 Week Prep Course
- 6 Week Prep Course
- Self-Paced Video Course
Princeton Review
- Score improvement guarantee
- AP 5 Guarantee Tutoring
- AP 4 Guarantee Course
- Cram Course
- On-Demand tutoring
Prep Scholar
- Personalized one-on-one tutoring
- Get matched with a top scorer
- Get college credit for the tutoring
- Lessons target your specific needs
- Completely cover any challenges
FIRST-YEAR COLLEGE SURVIVAL BOOKS
- Dorm room survival
- Dealing with differences
- The fastest way to get an A
