Helpful Websites
General
The College Board BigFuture
BigFuture is a free, comprehensive resource that improves the college planning experience for students, families, and educators. BigFuture includes several interactive resources that are best experienced online, where students answer simple questions that help them quickly begin customizing their search for colleges and financial aid.
Check This Out! The College Board BigFuture Scholarship Search helps you find scholarships, other financial aid, and internships from more than 2,200 programs, totaling nearly $6 billion.
RoadTrip Nation
Figure out where you're going. Whether you love sports, science, or knitting hats for cats, there’s a way to mash up your interests and make a living out of it. Define your road!
CaliforniaColleges.edu
Ready to start your college and career planning? CaliforniaColleges.edu is the official source for college and career planning in California, with great tools to help students discover how to be on a path to college. All middle school and high school students are highly encouraged to visit this website and sign up for an account. The website also includes tools for community college students, parents, and educators.
Also check out these CaliforniaColleges.edu resources:
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A Successful First Sign In to CaliforniaColleges.edu (PDF Format, 990 KB)
This 2-page document provides instructions and best practices for getting groups of students onto the CaliforniaColleges.edu website systematically. -
Educator Guide to Career Planning Lessons (PDF Format, 306 KB)
This 2-page document introduces students to career planning resources on CaliforniaColleges.edu, guides students through career planning assessments and tools, and helps students understand the connection between career and college.
First in Your Family to College? Here is an excellent website:
- I'mFirst.org is an initiative of the nonprofit Center for Student Opportunity, which works to empower first-generation college students on the path to and through college. Their website has a great tool for finding colleges friendly to first-generation students, as well as lots of "stories" from first-gen students like YOU!
Know How 2 Go website, in English and Español
EXCELLENT website with advice for students and mentors (including PARENTS!)
College Planning Help from the Campaign for College Opportunity in English
Links to lots of websites with college planning information.
College Planning Help for Parents from ACT in English
Information for parents from ACT, the organization that administers the ACT, one of the two standardized tests that students can choose to take to qualify for a four-year college or university.
College Planning Help for Parents from College Board in English and Español
Information for parents from Colllege Board, the organization that administers the SAT, the other of the two standardized tests that students can choose to take to qualify for a four-year college or university.
Action Plans for Parents of Middle School and High School Students in English
College Board’s version of Action Plans for Parents. Other sites have action plans, but not all include Middle School parents.
Financial Literacy and Financial Aid
MyMoney.gov website
The U.S. government's website dedicated to teaching the basics about financial education.
FinAid website
A superb and comprehensive source of student financial aid information, advice, and tools.
Scholarship search websites
Check out this U.S. News & World Report article about how to start your scholarship search.
ScholarShare website, in English and Español
Learn about California's 529 Savings Plans.
Opportunity Fund website
Take a free MONEY SMART course, and learn about Individual Development Accounts.
Intuit website
Links to tons of resources on everything college students and their parents need to know about taxes.
College Greenlight website
Connects first generation and underrepresented students to caring colleges, generous scholarships, and life-changing counselors and mentors.
University of California
Visit the official Admissions website for the University of California.
California State University
Cal State Apply, the starting place for admissions, with ALL the info you will ever need!
California Community Colleges
Message to Parents
Enrollment to Graduation and Beyond — Helpful Tools
Aimed at students, this website and its links are helpful to parents too.