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The College Admissions Resources We Recommend

These are the free college admissions resources we recommend to families most often: official tools for researching colleges, applying, paying for college, testing and essays. Tap any card to open the source in a new tab.

College Search Tools

College Navigator

Unbiased data on every U.S. college: cost, admissions, programs, graduation rates.

BigFuture (College Board)

Explore colleges, majors, and financial aid options with personalized guidance.

College Scorecard

Compare colleges based on real outcomes like earnings and student debt.

Application Platforms

Common App

Apply to 1,000+ colleges, track requirements, and access essay prompts.

Coalition Application / Scoir

A student-centered application emphasizing affordability and access.

University of California Application

Official portal for all UC campuses.

ApplyTexas

Application system for all Texas public universities.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

FAFSA: Federal Student Aid

Apply for federal grants, loans, and work-study.

CSS Profile

Required by many private colleges for institutional financial aid.

Net Price Calculator Center

Estimate your real cost at any U.S. college.

Fastweb

Find vetted scholarships based on your profile.

Scholarships.com

Search millions of national and local scholarship opportunities.

Standardized Testing

SAT (College Board)

Registration, test dates, digital SAT info, and prep resources.

ACT

Register, explore score reports, and access official practice tools.

FairTest: Test-Optional Colleges

Updated list of test-optional and test-free institutions.

Essay Guidance

Common App Essay Prompts

Current prompts and guidelines for the personal statement.

JHU: Essays That Worked

Examples of strong essays with admissions commentary.

UChicago Supplemental Prompts

Creative sample essay questions from a top institution.

College Data & Research Tools

IPEDS Data Tools

Explore federal data on colleges, outcomes, and enrollment.

Pew Research Center: Higher Education

Nonpartisan insights on trends affecting students and families.

Planning & Organization

College Board Planning Timeline

Step-by-step planning for grades 9–12.

ACT College Planning Checklist

Organized timelines and worksheets for every grade level.

Scoir

College planning, research, and document management used by many high schools.

Student Athletes

NCAA Eligibility Center

Required for Division I & II athletic eligibility and recruitment.

NAIA Eligibility Center

Eligibility and recruitment guidance for NAIA programs.

International Students

EducationUSA

Official U.S. State Department advising centers for international applicants.

English Proficiency Exams

IELTS
TOEFL

Transition & Student Wellness

The Jed Foundation: Transition to College

Mental health and emotional wellness resources for students entering college.

NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling)

Trusted information on ethical admissions practices and student guides.

How to Use These Resources

Start with the college search tools to build a first list, then check each school’s net price before you get attached to it. The College Scorecard and each college’s own net price calculator give a much better estimate of cost than the published sticker price. Use the application platforms to see which essays and deadlines each school requires, and the testing links to confirm whether a school requires, recommends or ignores SAT and ACT scores, since those policies have changed in the last few years.

Treat every list and ranking here as a starting point. None of these tools can tell you how a selective college will read your student’s file, which is the question our free 30-minute strategy session is built to answer.