College Resources

Here you’ll find both electronic and print resources for getting through the college application process. The websites are annotated, and all of the books listed are in the Milne Library collection and link directly to the catalog. Any questions? Ask us for help!

Test Preparation

College Board - SAT practice

The College Board administers the SAT and other standardized tests for higher education; their site is an excellent go-to resource for all kinds of test preparation.

Khan Academy-Test Prep

This great online learning resource has full practice tests and instructional videos to help you understand and questions that you answered incorrectly.

Test Prep Review

Powered by Mometrix Test Preparation, this website provides free practice tests and study guides, in addition to other college admissions information. As it is for-profit, they do market some of their test preparation products.

Applying to College - The Admissions Process

Websites:

Best Colleges

Although this website was created by a private company (may have some biases), it provides a comprehensive college to-do list, from getting good grades to getting on an admissions waitlist. Also has a “Career Interests” quiz to help you narrow down your career interests.

College Scorecard

Maintained by the U.S. Department of Education, this robust site assists not only with college planning, but also with career planning in general.

Khan Academy

The site with many online, high-quality virtual courses also has a link with a “Master Plan” of what you should do for college planning, starting in ninth grade!

The Princeton Review

Here you'll find a useful, dependable list of the college application steps to take, in chronological order from a renowned source.

World Higher Education Database

In collaboration with UNESCO, the International Association of Universities developed this extensive database of four-year degree programs found all over the world.

Books:

Admission Matters : What Students and Parents Need to Know About Getting into College 2017

Springer, Sally P.

378.161 Spr

College Admissions Cracked: Saving Your Kid (and Yourself) From the Madness 2019

Shulman, Jill Margaret

378.161 Shu

College Admission Essentials: A Step-by-Step Guide to Showing Colleges Who You Are and What Matters to You 2020

Sawyer, Ethan

378.161 Saw

The Enlightened College Applicant: A New Approach to the Search and Admissions Process 2016

Belasco, Andrew and Bergman, Dave

378.161 Bel

Game On: Why College Admission is Rigged and How to Beat the System 2021

Paterno, Susan F.

378.161 Pat

Get Real and Get in: How to Get Into the College of Your Dreams by Being Your Authentic Self 2021

Legatt, Aviva

378.161 Leg

The Mindful College Applicant: Cultivating Emotional Intelligence for the Admissions Process 2019

Chiu, Belinda H.Y.

378.161 Chi

The Truth About College Admission: A Family Guide to Getting in and Staying Together 2019

Barnard, Brennan and Clark, Rick

378.161 Bar

Valedictorians at the Gate: Standing Out, Getting In, and Staying Sane While Applying to College 2021

Sabky, Becky Munsterer

378.161 Sab

Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions 2020

Selingo, Jeffrey

378.161 Sel

Admissions Essay Writing

Websites:

Advice from College Admissions Officers

Six experienced undergraduate admissions officers provide some insightful suggestions about how to approach this very important essay.

Books:

Complete Guide to College Application Essays 2020

The Princeton Review 378.161 Pri

Pitch Perfect: How to Write a Successful College Admission Essay 2012

Moynahan, Molly 378.1 Moy

College Guides

The 386 Best Colleges: In-Depth Profiles & Ranking Lists to Help Find the Right College for You 2021 The Princeton Review 387.73 Bes

The Best Value Colleges: 75 Schools that Give You the Most for Your Money 2020 The Princeton Review 378.73 Pri

Colleges Worth Your Money: A Guide to What America's Top Schools can do for You 2021 Belasco, Andrew Bergman, Dave. Trivette, Michael 378.73 Bel

Four-Year Colleges 2021 Peterson’s 378.72 Pet

Tuition/Financial Aid

Websites:

Massachusetts-based:

American Student Assistance (ASA)

Funded by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, includes a hotline and in-person locations you can visit for higher ed financial planning assistance, not to mention tools for helping students make career choices.

Massachusetts Education Finance Authority (MEFA)

elps families and educators plan for college through savings plans, cost estimators and low-interest loans. Excellent site!

Tuition Break The New England Board of Higher Education’s program, Tuition Break, enables residents of the six New England states to pay less in tuition at many public colleges throughout New England. Visit their site to explore some of the 800 programs Massachusetts residents are eligible for through Tuition Break

National:

The College Board Scholarship Search

In addition to scholarship information, the College Board site rewards high school students for completing the application steps with prize money, in addition to an entry for a $40,000 award towards college - if you complete all of the steps!

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is administered by the U.S. Department of Education, and provides schools with data about applicants’ financial pictures. You must fill it out to receive aid from any higher education institution by the stated deadline.

Guide to Financial Aid & Scholarships for Black Students - Study.com

This guide offers in-depth information in several areas including:

Information on finding and applying for scholarships
A list of scholarships for black students at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels
Information on HBCUs and why they're important
A list of scholarships for students wanting to attend an HBCUs
Organizations and resources that are helpful for Black students and students of color

Tuition Tracker

This site provides an interactive tool for comparing colleges using data that shows what schools actually cost the year students expect to enroll. It is managed by The Hechinger Report and powered by the U.S. Department of Education.

Books:

Peterson's How to Get Money for College: Financing Your Future Beyond Federal Aid 2021

Peterson’s

378.309 Pet

How to Send Your Student to College Without Losing Your Mind or Your Money 2017

Howard, Shellee

378.34 How

Paying for College: Everything you Need to Maximize Financial Aid and Afford College

The Princeton Review, 2020

Chany, Kalman A., Martz, Geoff

378.309 Pri

The Price you Pay for College: An Entirely New Road Map for the Biggest Financial Decision Your Family Will Ever Make 2021