Resources

Pathways to College Network
The Pathways to College Network is a national alliance of organizations and funders dedicated to focusing research-based knowledge and resources on improving college preparation, access, and success for underserved students, including low-income students, underrepresented minorities, first-generation students, and students with disabilities.

The College Board
The College Board is a not-for-profit membership organization composed of more than 4,500 schools, colleges, universities, and other educational organizations. Each year, the College Board serves over three million students and their parents, 23,000 high schools, and 3,500 colleges through major programs and services in college admissions, guidance, assessment, financial aid, enrollment, and teaching and learning. Among its best-known programs are the SAT, the PSAT/NMSQT, and the Advanced Placement Program.

Educational Testing Service
ETS is the world's largest private educational measurement organization and a leader in educational research. Under contract with the College Board, it creates, administers and scores the SAT, the PSAT/NMSQT, and the Advanced Placement Tests. Other ETS testing programs include the CLEP, GMAT, GRE and TOEFL.

National College Access Network
The National College Access Network is dedicated to assisting local communities all over the country initiate, develop and sustain their own college access programs.

National Information Center for Higher Education Policy and Analysis
The National Information Center for Higher Education Policymaking and Analysis provides state policymakers and analysts data and information to assist in making higher education policy decisions.

Betraying the College Dream: How Disconnected K-12 and Postsecondary Education Systems Undermine Student Aspirations (requires Adobe Reader)
This report from the Bridge Project at Stanford University examines the barriers between high school and college that are unermining student aspirations.

Ready or Not: Creating a High School Diploma that Counts
This publication from The American Diploma Project. Achieve, Inc., The Education Trust, the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation and five states argues that states' expectations for high school graduation remain largely disconnected from the real-world demands graduates face in postsecondary education and in high-growth, high-performance jobs.

A Guide to Establishing Community-Based College Access Centers (requires Adobe Reader)
The Education Resources Institute (TERI) developed this guide as a blueprint for communities interested in establishing college access centers to promote college going among low-income students and those who are the first generation in their families to attend college. The guide describes what a college access center is and the steps that are necessary in order to start and sustain a center.

A Shared Agenda: A Leadership Challenge to Improve College Access and Success
This report from the Pathways to College Network offers broad policy recommendations and specific actions that leaders in government, education, and communities can take to improve college access and success for underserved students.

Latinos in Higher Education: Many Enroll, Too Few Graduate (requires Adobe Reader)
This report from the Pew Hispanic Center examines why Latinos lag in attaining college degrees.

Bridging the Gap: Academic Preparation and Postsecondary Success of First-Generation Students
This report from the National Center for Education Statistics examines the high school preparation and postsecondary persistence of first-generation students—those students whose parents had no education beyond high school—and compares them with students whose parents went to college.

GEAR UP: Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs
The GEAR UP program aims to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. Partnerships use the grants to provide services at high-poverty middle and high schools.

Upward Bound
Upward Bound helps prepare students — high school students from low-income families, from families in which neither parent holds a bachelor's degree, and low-income, first-generation military veterans who are preparing to enter postsecondary education. Upward Bound projects provide instruction in math, laboratory science, composition, literature, and foreign language, and may also offer services such as mentoring and help with preparing college entrance and financial aid applications.

Preparing Your Child for College: A Resource Book for Parents
This resource from the U.S. Department of Education provides information for parents on why their child should attend college, preparing for college, selecting a college, and financing a college education.

Choosing the Right College
A list of recommended Web sites, books and brochures from College is Possible.

Prep for College Calendar
The National Association for College Admission Counseling explains what you can do in your high school freshman, sophomore, junior and senior years to prepare for college.

SAT Question of the Day
Test yourself with a new SAT question and explanation every day, from the College Board.

Register Online for the SAT
At the College Board site, students can choose their test date and test center, and get immediate registration confirmation.

SAT Prep Center
This page from the College Board offers practice questions, a mathematics review, test-taking tips, and a downloadable full-length practice test.

Empty Promises: The Myth of College Access in America (requires Adobe Reader)
This report from the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance shows how financial barriers prevent hundreds of thousands of qualified students from going to college, and the cost to the nation.

The Student Guide
Available in English and Spanish, The Student Guide is a comprehensive resource on student financial aid from the U.S. Department of Education. Grants, loans, and work-study are the three major forms of aid available through the Department's Federal Student Aid office. Updated each award year, The Student Guide tells you about the programs and how to apply for them.

Financial Aid Need Estimator
This free service from ACT allows you to calculate both your family contribution and costs at specific institutions.

A Brief Look at Student Financial Aid Programs
College is Possible offers this overview of federal grants and loans; tax benefits for college students; and other federal, state and institutional programs.

Financial Aid Resources
The National Association for College Admission Counseling provides this list of links to scholarships, lenders and other resources.

Multicultural Resources
A list of counseling and financial aid sources to assist students from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds, from the National Association for College Admission Counseling.

Resources available from U.S. Department of Education
An annotated list of resources available through the U.S. Department of Education, from the National College Access Network.

FastWeb
This free service from Monster.com allows users to search over 600,000 scholarships worth more than $1 billion.

Advice on Scholarship Scams -- Don't be a Victim!
Educational Testing Service provides this advice from the Federal Trade Commission on how to spot scholarship scams.