Other Resources for College Planning
Here are some free publications to turn to for information on college planning, choosing a college and financing a college education.
"Getting Ready for College Early. A Handbook for Parents of Students in the Middle and Junior High School Years." U.S. Department of Education. Call 1(800) USA-LEARN
"GRO: Going Right On." The College Board. For a free copy, contact The College Board at 45 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY 20023-6992 or (212) 713-8180.
"Preparing Your Child for College: A Resource Book for Parents." U.S. Department of Education. Call 1(800) USA-LEARN.
"School Shopping Tips." U.S. Department of Education. Call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1(800) 433-3243 for a free copy.
"The Student Guide, Financial Aid from The U.S. Department of Education, 1998-99." A comprehensive resource on student financial aid. Call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1(800) 433-3243 for a free copy.
Also available online at http://www.ed.gov/finaid.html
Lots of college planning and financial aid information is available over the internet. Here are some sites to try:
National Association of Financial Aid Administrators. There you will find the Financial Aid Information Page, which contains access to a database of scholarships, fellowships, grants and loans. You also will find online calculators of financial aid, newsgroups and an annotated bibliography of books on paying for college.
The College Board. With a section designed specifically for students and parents, this organization provides college planning advice, information on college admissions testing (including a practice writing test for the SAT), information on College Board programs and publications and a guide to finding a college that fits.
The Student Loan Marketing Association (SallieMae). This site is dedicated to information about paying for college including an extensive explanation of financial aid and a glossary of financial aid terms. This site also includes an online scholarship database called CASHE (College Aid Sources for Higher Education).
Student Loan Guaranty Agencies. Organizations that offer students loans often offer information on career planning, college selection and instructions on how to apply for financial aid.
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education. The federal government provides information for students and families, including links to colleges and universities and other higher education web sites.
Peterson’s. The company that produces the Peterson’s Guides publications also has a web site with comparative college data about specific colleges and graduate schools –
A visit to your local bookstore will turn up a huge number of publications on choosing a college. The ones below are just a sample of what is available.
Pope, Loren. Colleges that Change Lives: 40 Schools You Should Know About Even if You’re Not a Straight-A Student, Penguin Books, New York, 1996.
Hayden, Thomas C. Peterson’s Handbook for College Admissions. Fourth Edition. Peterson’s. Princeton, NJ, 1995.
Fiske, Edward B. The Fiske Guide to Getting Into the Right College. Times Books. Random House, New York, 1997.
Shields, Charles. The College Guide for Parents. Third Edition. The College Board. Available in bookstores or by sending a check for $14, plus a $4 handling charge, to College Board Publications, Two College Way, Forrester Center, WV 25438. This and other College Board publications may also be ordered online at the College Board website. |
