Guide to Mega-Sites* for College Admission

(The following content was previously available on guideforparents.com, developed and maintained by Jan A. Maas)

Here is a handy guide to some full-service college admission sites, arranged alphabetically.

CollegeXpress:  Sign up for a free college search, plus lots of information on scholarship and loans. Ask questions through the bulletin board service. Offers a full range of articles about college admission and the college experience.

2006 Colleges, College Scholarships, and Financial Aid page:  A free, "all purpose college and scholarship information site which includes links to nine free internet scholarship search data bases, links to college websites and online applications, college admissions office email addresses and (mostly toll free) phone numbers, ACT and SAT prep information, and much, much more."

The Admissions Office:  Here, students can find links to different schools, rankings, test and test preparation information, applications, and much more. The site also features resources for counselors.

The College Board:  A goldmine of free information about the College Board's tests (such as the AP, PSAT, SAT). The site includes test dates, preparation advice and practice. Students can also register to search for colleges, using the ExPAN database, and apply online through Next Stop College or CollegeLink. Other features include financial aid information for counselors.

College Is Possible:  This site has been designed especially for families who are members of a minority group, or have a low income, or who are sending their first student to college. It provides basic information about college costs and financial aid, and links users to other major sites for college and scholarship searches. Sponsored by the Coalition of America's Colleges and Universities, which represents over 1,200 colleges and educational organizations.

CollegeNET:  Do a college search by name and state (although the choice is limited to the site's 350 member colleges), then apply. There is also financial aid information and a scholarship search. CollegeNET offers students the chance to win a $10,000 scholarship if they apply through the site. Registration with the site is free, and CollegeNET promises to insure the privacy of those who register.

Kaplan:  An alphabetical list of colleges can be found several levels deep in this site. The content is rich in articles on all aspects of the college admission process: Test preparation (ACT, PSAT, SAT I and II), financial aid. Free. Students can register for a personalized site.

Peterson's:  Provides a college search and comparison, plus financial aid information. Other features: online application, essay help, parents' pages, international student information, many articles on the application process, and a link to Peterson's College Store. Free, but registration is required for some of these services.

The Princeton Review:  Click on "College" and then register to get a vast array of information about many colleges. The site provides rankings and student opinions (based on the Princeton Review's "Guide to the Best 351 Colleges"). It also includes articles on the SATs and financial aid, suggested Princeton Review books to help in the process, and discussion groups. Scholarship search via Scholaraid from Student Advantage.
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* An Internet site with a broad range of information and services is often called a "mega-site."

In the past few years, an increasing number of mega-sites have appeared, to help families in the college application process. In my opinion, these sites should at least provide free information (although they may offer goods and services for a price), link you to colleges, or guide you in the financial aid process.  They may also offer other services, such as test preparation, online applications, chat rooms or interactive counseling.