Resources for College Planning

General Admissions Information
  • College Search Articles for High School Students -- This easy-to-navigate, comprehensive site contains a treasure trove of useful information as well as links to articles about all aspects of college search and selection.
  • The College Board web site’s college search software, ExPAN, has a college search feature that lets students enter specific criteria. The site includes information about all colleges in the U.S., plus the full text of The College Handbook. The homepage leads the student through an online interview and assembles a list of colleges that match qualifications and interests.
  • Admissions Advice -- This site, which is updated regularly, contains well-written, timely articles on a variety of college admissions-related topics.
  • U.S. News & World Report -- This site provides limited free access to the U.S. News database that is used to generate college rankings. Although the rankings themselves are controversial, the data used to generate them can be useful. The full database can be accessed for a modest annual fee.
Test Preparation
  • College Board -- Learn about the SAT and AP exams. Register online for the SAT.
  • ACT -- Learn about the ACT and register online.
Need-Based Financial Aid
  • FAFSA -- Federal site for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. If you are applying for need-based aid, visit this site. You can complete the FAFSA online.
  • College Board's CSS Profile. Many private schools require the PROFILE for institutional aid. The PROFILE is submitted online.
  • College Board's Ways To Pay. This site has expected financial contribution (EFC) calculators for federal and institutional aid, as well as a tool to help you compare financial aid packages.
Merit-Based Financial Aid
  • CareerOneStop Scholarship Search This search engine, sponsored by the Federal government, offers an extensive searchable database of scholarships. No registration is required. The site lists scholarships for students applying to colleges as well as students already enrolled in college.
  • The College Board Scholarship Search. No registration is required. Enter specific criteria and get a list of scholarships for which you might you might qualify.
  • Fastweb is a popular site with an excellent scholarship search and an EFC calculator. It will automatically alert you to approaching scholarship deadlines via e-mail. You must register to access.
Jewish Life
  • Hillel, the Foundation for Jewish Life. Caution: The information about individual colleges is often not up to date. Click on the links to individual college web sites for current information.
  • KOACH -- Conservative Judaism's college outreach program
College Newspapers
  • Campus Newspapers from NewsLink -- Find links to newspapers around the country, including college papers.

Remember that in addition to web-based resources, the CJHS College Counseling Department is an excellent resource for information about colleges. The CJHS College Resource Center houses college materials, including:
  • College catalogs and viewbooks
  • Books on the college admissions process
  • Scholarship and financial aid information
  • Standardized testing information and registration materials