Student and Parent Resources
There are many books and websites that can help with each component of the college application process. Following are some of my favorites.
Overall College Admissions Process
Admission Matters by Sally Springer and Jon Reider
College Admission by Robin Mamlet and Christine Vandevelde
There Is Life After College by Jeffrey Selingo
Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be by Frank Bruni
College Research Guides
The Best 385 Colleges, by The Princeton Review (updated annually)
Colleges That Change Lives, by Loren Pope
The Fiske Guide to the Colleges, by Edward Fiske (updated annually) - my personal favorite
The K & W Guide to Colleges for Students with Learning Differences, by Marybeth Kravets and Imy Wax
Financial Aid Resources
The College Solution - Helpful website and blog by Lynn O’Shaugnessey
FAFSA - Federal financial aid form used by all US colleges
CSS Profile - Secondary form used by a subset of US colleges (in addition to the FAFSA)
Expected Family Contribution - To get a rough idea of your expected financial contribution
Most Commonly Used College Application Forms