In no particular order, here are my choices for the top 10 college websites:
1. College Navigator.
The graphics aren't slick, but this federal website contains more data
on the nation's colleges and universities than any place else on the
Internet. Using the College Navigator's school search engine, you can
scour the country for schools based on your criteria, which is handy if
you aren't sure where to hunt for schools beyond the obvious name brands
and your own state institutions.
2. College Results Online. Families
assume that their children will graduate from college in four years,
but that's sadly not true for most. This great website provides four,
five, and six-year graduation rates of schools across the country. What I
also like about College Results Online is that it breaks down
graduation rates by gender and ethnicity.
3. Zinch and 4. Cappex. These
websites are online matchmakers that have borrowed features from
Facebook that should appeal to teenagers. On both sites, for instance, a
student can create a profile that goes well beyond test scores and
grade-point averages that they can share with schools. Using these sites
is a great way to discover intriguing schools that you didn't know
exist. Through Cappex, you can access Meritaid.com, which provides a valuable directory of scholarships that thousands of schools offer.
5. CollegeMajors101. Wondering
what you can do with a degree in biology or dance? College Majors 101
offers lots of information about what you can do with dozens of majors,
as well as what you can expect academically if you pursue these majors.
6. College Insight. College
Insight, which is the brainchild of the Institute for College Access
and Success, has gathered detailed information on thousands of colleges.
You can find statistics for any school on such topics as college
affordability, graduation rates, and college diversity, including the
racial and ethnic breakdown of students and professors.
7. Project on Student Debt.
This website is devoted to helping families make the best economic
choices when tackling college costs. You will find tons of information
about college debt and student loans. The site also has a list of
schools that have pledged to limit or eliminate the use of student loans
in their financial aid packages.
8. College Board.
I am always turning to the College Board when I want to check some
quick facts about a particular school. You can easily retrieve the
academic profile of a college's freshman class, financial aid and merit
aid stats, available majors, and much more.
9. Unigo. This site, which has teamed up with the Wall Street Journal,
serves up the unvarnished scoop on schools from the students
themselves. You won't find spin from admission offices here. Unigo urges
college students to share their take on their own schools through
comments, photos, and videos.
10. The Choice (New York Times). This
college blog will keep you up to date on the latest trends on college
admission, testing, and financial aid. The blog also features a lot of
question-and-answer sessions with college admission officers and other
higher ed experts.
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