1. ParentsCountdowntoCollegeCoach.com–You will find the MOST information here on our blog: college guidance, college planning, college coaching, and college news. Come here first to find the latest and best tools to help you navigate the college maze.
2. UniversityParent.com–A site where parents can ask questions, gather information, and download and view college guides and campus newsletters.
3. Fastweb.com–An extensive scholarship search website with a massive database of scholarships, along with articles and helps designed specifically for parents.
4. Zinch.com–A free service for students and parents where students can showcase themselves, connect with colleges, and search for scholarships.
5. Cappex.com–A site created for students to help them simplify their college search, create a profile and search for scholarships.
6. MeritAid.com–The place to go to find merit scholarships and academic scholarships from colleges across the country.
7. SmartCollegeVisit.com–Created to provide information about college visits, help parents and students plan, and view personal accounts from both parents and students.
8. MyCollegeCalendar.org–Interactive college admissions counseling program designed for both high school students and their parents.
9. Scholarships.com–An extensive scholarship search engine that helps you search and schedule alerts for deadlines.
10. MyUSearch.com–An excellent blog with tips for parents and students about college; also provides college matching and scholarship searches.
11. FindTuition.com–Help finding money to pay for college, along with articles related to college financing.
12. EntrepreneurEdu.org–This is an excellent resource for students who are interested in colleges who offer entrepreneurial programs.
13. TutorsForTestPrep.com–An SAT expert and coach offering tips to help your college-bound teen improve their SAT/ACT scores.
14. Bookrenter.com–Rent college textbooks and save up to 75% over purchasing them new.
15. TheCollegeSolutionBlog.com–An excellent resource for college-bound teens and their parents: admissions, testing, and financial aid.
16. UniversityLanguage.com/blog–Great blog articles about everything related to college admissions geared toward students.
17. CollegeWeekLive.com–A virtual college fair that sponsors free LIVE events with archived presentations, student chats, and college booths.
18. BetterGrads.org–A network of college student peer advisers and a resource filled website presenting honest accounts of the college experience geared toward high school students.
19. Youniversitytv.com–Learn about colleges by watching video tours, chat with students on campus forums, post questions and get answers.
20. NYTimes-TheChoiceBlog–Demystifying college admissions and financial aid by providing articles and Q&A by experts in the field.
21. GreatCollegeAdvice.com/blog–An excellent resource about the college admissions process providing expert advice helping students map their college journey.
22. USNews.com/Education–The education channel of U.S. News and World Reports providing the latest news and information related to college.
23. Fafsa.ed.gov–The official government website for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
24. CommonApp.org–The common application site used by 400 colleges and universities across the country.
25. PrincetonReview.com–The best value colleges list for public and private institutions across the country.
26. NCSASports.org–The college recruiting site for athletes.
27. FairTest.org–The site for the National Center for fair and open testing providing information about colleges who do not use the SAT/ACT for admissions decisions.
28. SallieMae.com/plan–A FREE education investment planner that will help determine college costs, compare college costs, and provides information about student loan repayments.
29. UPromise.com–UPromise partners return a portion of eligible purchase money back to you. Those earnings accumulate in your Upromise account until you decide to use it to invest in a 529 plan, help pay down eligible student loans or assist with college expenses—all tax-free!
30. SavingForCollege.com–Everything you need to know about financing a college education.
31. CollegeBoard.com–It’s here you’ll find the CSS Profile application (required by many private colleges), register for the SAT, and read articles about planning for college.
32. CollegeBasics.com–An excellent resource for information about college essays, college applications and high school resumes.
33. InsideHigherEd.com/blogs–Several different blogs related to higher education.
34. CollegeXpress.com–A search site that groups colleges in categories and provides college “hot” lists (i.e. top college for late bloomers, colleges for students needing a second chance)
35. ECampus.com–Find textbooks, sell textbooks, search for college supplies and college apparel all on this one site.
36. TheRealCollegeGuide.com–Four blogs about college life: the dorm, lifestyle, academics and heath and fitness.
37. DesignYourDorm.com–A free online, interactive resource for designing and organizing your college-bound teen’s dorm room.
38. CollegeAdmissionsPartners.com/blog–An expert blog dedicated to helping students find the right college.
39. GradeFund.com—Students invite their friends and family to sponsor their drive for good grades. Sponsors choose grade levels and sponsorship amounts for each grade (as low as $5) to help students raise money for their college education.
40. CollegeParentCentral.com–A blog created to give parents useful information about college and the college admissions process.
41. Number2.com–Free online test prep (SAT/ACT) with vocabulary exercises and help.
42. VolunteerMatch.org–Find local volunteer opportunities for your college-bound teen and teach them about the importance of giving back to their community with the added bonus of adding that service to their high school resume.
43. KnowHow2Go.com–A college planning site for college-bound students providing helps and aids from middle school to senior year: interactive and fun!
44. BeRecruited.com–If you have a teen that’s a student athlete, they can create an online profile here and help colleges and coaches find them and be recruited.
45. FinAid.org–An excellent resource for the answers to all your questions regarding college financial aid.
46. TheCampusBuzz.com–An online clearinghouse for national college news; find all the college news in one place!
47. BigFuture.collegeboard.org–A planning tool to help parents and students get ready for college.
48. CollegeFocus.com/colleges–A virtual clearinghouse of blogs related to college life, parenting, college searches, etc.
49. Word-nerd.com–An PSAT/SAT vocabulary prep tool.
50. YourCollegeKid.com–A site with parent forums and other college prep tools.
Hi Suzanne!
This is a great resource for college parents and students! We work with a lot of college parents & students who are in the college planning phase; I will definitely recommend this page to them. Keep up the great work!
Rob
MoneyManagement101.org
Thanks for including College Parent Central on your Top 50 list! This is a great, comprehensive resource. It’s a helpful list for current college students, potential college students, and their parents. So many students and parents feel that they have to learn the college admissions and college success process alone, but there’s lots of help available. There’s definitely something on your list for everyone.
Hey, thanks for including my blog, TheCollegeSolutionBlog,on your list of the best college websites. Your visitors may also like to visit my other college blog at CBSMoneyWatch. http://bit.ly/2F7qhk
Lynn O’Shaughnessy
Rob,
Thanks for commenting on our list. I’ve added your site to my list of resources for parents as well and on my collegeinfo twitter list. Finding the right help that you need can be difficult. It’s always great to add another resource.
Suzanne
Vicki,
Thanks for commenting and for offering help to parents of college-bound teens. Your site is not only helpful, but in many ways comforting to parents who feel like they are all alone in the process.
Suzanne
Lynn,
Thanks for providing that additional link for parents. Your information is extremely helpful in all areas of college preparation.
Keep up the good work.
Suzanne
Suzanne,
I like your list. Definitely a great tool for families that are tackling the college selection/financial aid process.
I have what will hopefully be an “up and comer” website in the world of college affordability. Who knows.. maybe I can make your list next year! 😉
Doug@CheapScholar.org
Doug,
Just bookmarked your website and looking forward to recommending it to my parents as a resource. Good luck with your endeavor and please let me know if I can help.
Suzanne
I truly like reading your blog as the posts are so simple to read and follow. Brilliant. Please keep it up. Thanks.
This is EXACTLY what i was looking for the other day! Thanks for the great post
Another great resource for students seeking roommates is http://www.uroomsurf.com/
URoomSurf helps future and current students identify and connect with potential roommates. It has become a very popular social networking tool, and already has over 10,000 student members!
If you know anyone looking for a roommate, please let them know about URoomSurf.com!
I really enjoy the information on this blog. I came across it while searching on Google
Justin,
Thanks for the heads up. I’ll add it to my list of helpful sites for college-bound teens. Next time I do a “best of” list, you’ll be included. Thanks for stopping by.
Good thread. Cheers!!
Through the years it — the evaluation process — hasn’t changed all that much. College programs are still looking for players that can play at their level and, hopefully, raise the level of their program. But as one NBA scout has stated, “talent is a narcotic.” Coaches get fixated on specific attributes, get addicted to certain strengths and sometimes even hypnotized by the possibilities.
outstanding post…will be used and shared for months to come. Thanks for sharing.
Best post ever! Thanks for doing a great job!
Great list, indeed! Thank you for the great post. We will definitely be checking these out. Wish you were around when I was in college – or the internet for that matter 🙂
Don’t I know it! I wish these resources were available when my kids went to college. The key for parents now is to know where to look–hopefully that’s where I can help!
I have been using price comparison sites like http://www.thecollegetextbooks.net for buying my textbooks. It is better than going for standalone stores. As you can save on lot of money using them.
There are also state-specific websites. For instance, Indiana has: http://www.indianacollegecosts.org
Excellent additional information. Thanks for sharing Daniel.
Great resource and blog here for those students applying to the Ivy League: http://www.IvyLeagueEssay.com
I appreciate it if you could add it to your list of resources! It’s run by me: a former Harvard admissions interviewer!