Teens > College planning

College planning

Admissions
Guides

Financial aid
Study abroad

Admissions

ACT Assessment: http://www.act.org/aap/

FAQs, sample questions and strategies, and how to register.
Prepare for the GED at the library: http://multcolib.org/services/literacy/literacylab.html#ged

Learn about testing requirements. Access library resources, practice tests and websites for study in the five subject areas.
Adult Basic Education/GED at Mount Hood Community College: http://www.mhcc.edu/ged/"

"The ABE/GED program offers classes in both Spanish and English designed to develop the skills needed in reading, math, science, social studies and writing in preparation for the GED tests, skill advancement and employability. Individuals ages 16 or older are eligible to enroll."
Adult Basic Education (ABE) at PCC: http://www.pcc.edu/prepare/basic/

Includes information about free GED prep classes.
College Board Online: http://www.collegeboard.com/

Register online, send your scores to schools.
Common Application Online: http://www.commonapp.org/

Apply simultaneously for colleges that use the common application form. You must register to use the site.
Educational Testing Service: http://www.ets.org/

Practice questions for AP, SAT, GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, and LSATs. Info about financial aid, colleges and universities, careers.
General Educational Development (GED): http://www.oregon.gov/CCWD/GED/

Answers to frequently asked questions about the test, from the Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development (CCWD).
Learning Express Library: http://www.learnatest.com/library/

Take practice tests including the GED, civil service, cosmetology, real estate, several Advanced Placement exams, the ACT, the SAT, and many others. You'll need to set up a user name and password. Use your library card number as your user name.
Scholarship Help: http://www.scholarshiphelp.org/

"...Read our website and get the facts about scholarships as well as the best advice we can offer about how to succeed in winning scholarships."
Teen Ink: College Essays: http://teenink.com/college_guide/college_essays/

Real college essays written by real teens.
Vocab Minute: http://www.princetonreview.com/vocab-minute.aspx

The Vocab Minute podcast helps you remember those long, tricky words for the SAT by defining them in catchy little songs. From the Princeton Review.
Youth Employment Institute: http://www.yei.org/

Job readiness training and supervised work experiences, plus computer training, GED preparation, and more. GED tests are offered here weekly.
Zinch: http://www.zinch.com/

Zinch is a Facebook-style site where you create a profile viewable by college admissions officers.

Guides

College Navigator: http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/

"Search by programs offered, degrees offered, institution type, price, selectivity, distance from home, school size, institutional mission (historically black colleges and universities, single-sex), extended learning opportunities for adults (weekend and evening degree programs), and intercollegiate athletics programs offered."
Students.gov: http://www.students.gov/

"Answers to your questions on education, career, government and more."
College and University Rankings: http://www.library.illinois.edu/edx/rankings/index.html

The kind of rankings that really matter: the top activist colleges, the most wired campuses, the most accessible campuses for people with disabilities, the colleges with the best value, et cetera.
CollegeView Search: http://www.collegeview.com/

Search for colleges that meet your requirements: costs, majors, services, computing resources, types of residence, city size, etc.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities: http://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/list/whhbcu/edlite-list.html

Black college and university homepages.
United Negro College Fund: http://www.uncf.org/members/index.asp

Historically black colleges and universities that are members of UNCF.
US News and World Report College and Career Center: http://www.usnews.com/sections/rankings

College rankings, financial aid, college life, worksheets to calculate costs, career info, and more.
Worldwide Directory of Residential Colleges: http://collegiateway.org/colleges/

Don't know what a residential college is or why you'd want to attend one? This is where to find out.

Financial Aid

College Goal Oregon: http://www.collegegoaloregon.gov/index.html

Get help filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA, linked below).
Educators for Fair Consideration: http://www.e4fc.org

"We provide scholarships and advisory services to low-income immigrant students who have gained admission to and/or are currently enrolled in U.S. colleges. We help immigrant students become catalysts for change, by creating mentorship, arts, and service opportunities in their communities."
FAFSA: Free Application for Student Aid: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

Apply for Pell Grants, Stafford Loans, Perkins Loans, and work-study, among other programs.
FastWeb: http://www.fastweb.com

Use their college directory, read articles about preparing for college, or register for free for customized scholarship information.
FinAid: the Financial Aid Information Page: http://www.finaid.org/

"A free, comprehensive, independent, and objective guide to student financial aid."
FinAid: Aid for Minority Students: http://www.finaid.org/otheraid/minority.phtml

"...information about scholarships and fellowships for minority students." Part of FinAid.org.
Get College Funds: Oregon Student Assistance Commission: http://www.getcollegefunds.org/

Scholarships for Oregon students.
Scholarship Database: http://oregonstate.edu/dept/casa/scholarship-database

From Oregon State University's CASA Educacional Office. "A variety of scholarship databases as well as scholarships for Latinas/os."
Smart Saving for College Expenses: http://www.multcolib.org/ref/smartsaving/college-expenses.html

Calculate a budget for college, learn how to open a college savings plan, and more.
Student Guide to Financial Aid: http://studentaid.ed.gov/

From the US Department of Education. Comprehensive information about grants, loans, and work-study programs.

Study Abroad

CIEE: Council on International Educational Exchange: http://www.ciee.org/

Study, work, and volunteer abroad. Choose from 60 study abroad programs in 30 host countries.
StudyAbroad.com: http://www.studyabroad.com/

"...Thousands of study abroad programs in more than 100 countries throughout the world."
Transitions Abroad: http://www.transitionsabroad.com/

Study, travel, work, and live abroad.
WorldWide Classroom: http://www.worldwide.edu/

Find schools by country or type of program. Read what students say about their experiences.