Recommended Resources

The following websites are recommended resources for your college planning process. They have been chosen for their accuracy as well as their capacity to expand your awareness of important information about the college admission process. They do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Peter Van Buskirk.

Getting Started

National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC)

NACAC is the professional association of which most colleges and universities are members. This site includes a comprehensive orientation to the college process for students and their parents covering topics such as college preparation, scholarship scams, international student resources and online resources:

Students' Rights and A Guide to Ethical Behavior

NACAC has articulated important statements intended to define appropriate behavior by those involved in the college selection process. In particular, you should be familiar with the Statement of Students' Rights and Responsibilities in the College Admission Process as well as the Statement of Principles of Good Practice (under "Revised and approved September 2009:"). Pdfs of these documents are available at:

Career Search

Not sure you know what you want to be when you grow up? Count yourself among a VERY large group of people. In fact, most college students change their minds at least once. If you would like to begin sorting out your options now, though, check out this site:

Wondering if college is worth it? Check out this report to learn more about the impact of educational attainment on lifelong earnings:

College Search

At some point in your college planning you will need to use a college search mechanism in order to find places that are good fits given your needs and interests. The following are two of the most comprehensive sources of such information:

Glossary of Terms

Completing the college-going process may require that you develop a new vocabulary! Check out this site for a complete list of terms you are likely to encounter as you make your make your way through the admission process:

Testing

Test Registration

As the time for testing looms on the horizon, you should be mindful of deadlines and registration requirements. Almost equal numbers of students took the ACT and the SAT during the most recent admission cycle. Check the following sites for more information about tests, dates and registration deadlines:

Test Preparation

There is good evidence that students can improve their scores on college entrance tests (ACT and SAT) through test preparation. I have only encountered one test prep program, however, that will increase your knowledge of the subject matter while giving you problem-solving skills that improve your score! Developed and taught by a master teacher, ePrep.com is a video-based instructional series that will make a difference in what you know and how you perform.

List of Standardized Test Optional Colleges

The rapidly growing list of accredited, four-year colleges and universities that do not require the submission of ACT or SAT scores as part of their admission requirements is nearing 750! You can see the entire list at:

ACT/SAT Conversion Charts

The ACT and SAT are very different college entrance tests. Now that every college in the country will accept either test result, you might be interested in an approximation of how your result equates with scores on the "other" test.

The Application Process

Generic Application Forms

Interested in exploring application options that will allow you to complete one form from which you can generate applications to multiple colleges? The following links take you to websites for two organizations that provide such opportunities:

Special Interest / Needs

Athletic Recruitment and Admission

If you are an athlete who is eager to continue competing in college at any level, scholarship or non-scholarship, you need to be aware of the rules that govern the manner in which you may be recruited and considered for admission. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) are the two associations of which most intercollegiate athletic programs are members. Visit their sites to make sure you are aware of the rules before you become too heavily involved in the recruitment process:

Students with Disabilities and the College Search

Does the mere presence of a disability guarantee accommodations for students in the admission process or on college campuses once enrolled? Elizabeth Hamblet, a post secondary learning disabilities specialist, provides guidance and resources to help students with disabilities navigate the college going process.

Information for International Students

Are you a foreign national interested in pursuing post-secondary studies in the United States? If so, check this site. Click on "Links" to learn more about Immigration, Visa and Financial Aid Issues including a list of colleges and universities that award financial aid (pdf) to international students.

Financial Aid / Scholarships

Scholarship Searches

Looking for scholarships? The following sites will give you access to scholarship information and help you assess your viability as a candidate to receive merit awards:

Financial Aid

It you are looking for guidance in completing the financial aid process or you have received a financial aid award and aren't quite sure what to make of it, these sites provide a good orientation to the terms, the construction of financial aid award letters and how much assistance you are actually receiving:

Tax Benefits for Education: Information Center

A variety of tax credits, deductions and savings plans are available to taxpayers to assist with the expense of higher education. In particular, many parents and college students will be able to offset the cost of college over the next two years under the new American Opportunity Tax Credit. This tax credit is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Rankings

Formula for U.S. News & World Report College Rankings

Curious about college rankings? Check this link to learn more about how the editors at U.S. News & World Report arrive at their results:

Alternative to Rankings

The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) conducted annually by the Indiana University at Bloomington provides a comprehensive overview of outcomes for participating institutions. To learn more about this resource, visit their site and go to the "Students and Parents" page:

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why did you choose these resources?

A. I found these to be reputable resources known for their accuracy as well as their capacity to expand your awareness and understanding of the college admission process.

Q. I know of other resources I think are valuable? Are you interested in adding new sites to your list?

A. Yes! Please send the information to Peter@TheAdmissionGame.com and tell me what you like about the resource.

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