College Planning...
With the help of our partners and friends, we've created a list of resources to help guide you through the college maze*
* A Friendly Disclaimer: These resources are meant only as suggestions. The George M. Pullman Educational Foundation is in no way responsible for the information found on websites linked to this page, any changes made to them, or the advice given to students therein. By clinking on one of these links, you are leaving the Pullman Educational Foundation website. Please use your best judgment while visiting these pages and speak with your guidance counselor or college administrator for assistance.
Mapping Your Future
"One stop site for students and parents with
information on financial strategies, career options, and college planning."
Also en espanol. A great starting point to help guide you through the
maze! Takes you through the stages of planning, selecting, and paying for
college.
http://www.mapping-your-future.org
National Association for Student
Financial Aid Administrators
Top notch collection of resources for parents and students
preparing for college. Includes links to reliable sources of information
on financial aid, scholarships, loans, and applications. NASFAA does not
provide financial aid, but use this site to find out where to look!
http://www.nasfaa.org/ParentsStudents.asp?Tab=ParentsStudents
Do It
Afford It
Takes you through the college
planning journey - from "Who Are You?" to "Where Are You
Going?" to "How Do You Get There?" Includes some good help
for figuring out what your strengths are and how to match your experiences and
goals with a good college for you. Then how in the world you get there and
pay for it. Provided by NASFAA.
www.nasfaa.org/SubHomes/DoItAffordIt/doitcover.html
Federal Student Aid
The U.S. Department of Education provides over
$60 billion in grants, loans, and work-study for college or career school each
year. Here's how to make federal money work for you! This is the "Portal" for college-bound students and their parents. A
step-by-step guide to preparing, choosing, applying, funding, attending, and
repaying.
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/index.jsp
FAFSA - Free Application for Federal
Student Aid
The yearly application for students and their
families for federal financial aid. Required by all colleges and most
scholarship programs to determine need and how much help you can receive.
File online!
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov
Financial Aid Information Page
Includes a ton of good resources for searching
and applying for financial aid with links to other helpful sites -
including scholarship searches.
www.finaid.org
Scholarship
Searches
DO NOT PAY FOR ONLINE SCHOLARSHIP SEARCHES! There are
many FREE sites that allow you to search hundreds of thousands of scholarship
programs. If you are asked to pay, it could be a scam! Go to this
free one instead. It will ask you to fill out a "profile"
survey that describes who you are and what kind of student you'll be; then they
search for scholarships that fit you and give you helpful hints on how to
contact them.
www.fastweb.com
College Board
The national organization that developed the college testing
system - ACT, SAT, etc. They also provide great help for planning your
college career - from testing to finding the right college, from writing a
strong application to applying for money.
www.collegeboard.com
ISAC - Illinois Student
Assistance Commission
For students from Illinois, this is a great place to
start! Includes information on financial aid and college planning.
ISAC also provides grants to students who went to high school in Illinois.
Check out the site and talk to your guidance counselor.
www.collegezone.com
Peterson's
Peterson's
Education Portal College Search, Test Prep and Financial Aid - Find
colleges, graduate schools and online education programs at this comprehensive
education site. Search for scholarships and financial aid. Prepare for the SAT,
GRE, GMAT, ASVAB and Civil Service tests.
www.petersons.com