ISO College info websites

[funnybone]

DS1 is a sophomore and will start to look at colleges soon. It's so overwhelming and new to us - especially since both DH and I are from Canada where we could only apply to 3 universities at the we were doing all of this. Also, since we are not from Illinios, we are not stuck on him going to an in-state school. Does anyone know of any good sites that will help narrow the search down for ones he may be interested in?

[cocoa'smom]

collegeconfidential.com is a good site - I spend a lot of time reading their discussion boards - be aware, though, that a lot of the posters are really high achievers at the top of their class and many are interested in Ivy League type schools, so it can be kind of intimidating. I do enjoy reading it, though. collegeboard.com also has a lot of information. Junior year is when the college search really gets underway and remind your son, that everything he does in high school (9th grade on) really impacts the college process, especially, GPA, etc. I would encourage him to start taking the SAT now to get used to it. My DD, now a senior, took it every year from 9th grade and it really helped. The colleges usually will take your highest score for verbal and math from each session and combine those. He should also take the PSAT as a junior - those scores are used for National Merit scholarships. I'm glad the process is about over for us! Let me know if I can give answer any questions - like I said, we're just about at the end of this process, so its all fresh in my mind! He shoud also take the most advanced classes the school offers and as many AP classes as he can. The main thing colleges look at are: GPA, rigor of class schedule, and SAT/ACT. Extracurriculars, sports, etc. are secondary (but still important - can push a student over the top if they are borderline for acceptance).

[merley]

I also use collegeconfidential.com. This site is useful also when your kid is getting ready to go. Great advise and lists.

[Lauren]

Good thread! My DS#1 is a sophmore, too.

[cumulus]

Get them to talk to the guidance counselor at their schools ASAP! These men and women are a TREMENDOUS resource for students taking the first step in looking at schools. They will have tons of literature available about schools themselves, the application process, and what it takes to get in to many different schools.

Business magazines (US News, Business Week, Entrepreneur, US News and World report, etc.) often rank colleges based on academics, cost, and environment. Very worthwhile to check out. The Princeton Review does the same thing- if your student has any clue what they want to study, this is a great way to go. If not- they'll still be able to see what the general vibe of good universities are.

Don't be afraid to start visiting colleges either, even if it's ones close to your home that may not exactly be an option to attend. You'll at least be able to get a feel for size, and what kind of environment will best suit your child!

Best wishes- I ended up going to a school I never in a million years thought I would/could attend, and it turned out to be the best time of my life. Try not to stress out too much about it, but as a sophomore- this is certainly the best time to get started! I took my ACT as a sophomore as well, just to gauge where I would be able to get in. I would recommend doing so!

[boisewinesnob]

The main thing colleges look at are: GPA, rigor of class schedule, and SAT/ACT.

Don't forget class rank, which at many colleges is more important than some (or all) of those other things!

I am a long-time poster on CC. http://www.collegeconfidential.com/

I also have to add that your HS counselors can vary WIDELY in their expertise of the whole admissions process and about colleges----especially those colleges that aren't local.
funnybone, even though you mentioned not being from IL, you should really thoroughly research whether or not your DS would be a resident.

Feel free to PM me.

Another useful website with its own discussion board (of which I'm also a member): http://admissionsadvice.com which is my friend Carolyn's site. She is quite knowledgable about the whole process.

more sites:
http://www.princetonreview.com
http://www.collegeboard.com

[funnybone]

Thanks for the links and info everyone.

boisewinesnob - as for being a resident of IL, I believe you have to live here for a year to be considered one. We have been here almost four. The state schools here are making it harder for in-state kids to get in (this made headlines here last year). It's just that we've moved around to in the last 10 years that I can't see making him go to a "local" school here and then we move.

[Laura]

I actually use princeton review more than college confidential but that was just me.

DD had a fairly selective major (Chinese/East Asian Studies) so princeton review narrowed it down to the schools that even offered it.

We then started narrowing down by location/size/admission requirements/cost

But don't let cost be a deciding factor for you. DD got accepted to her second choice school early and was awarded a 15k/per year scholarship today (which in my mind might move it up to 1st choice:)). So now the school is as cheap as an in-state school and we haven't even received the total financial aid package yet.

[boisewinesnob]

Laura, congrats to your DD about the scholarship!

DS won a similar one to Gonzaga (which was his second choice school) and he came close to going there. It still would have been expensive, but really not much more than a public university, and actually cheaper than another state school which offered him a pretty pathetic financial aid package in addition to OOS tuition.

[Laura]

[QUOTE=boisewinesnob;1165735]Laura, congrats to your DD about the scholarship!
QUOTE]


Thanks, the scholarship is to Pacific Lutheran University; she really likes it, but it is just a little smaller than she would like. But, I think she may be eligible for some other scholarships too. Unfortunately, admissions due not close for her 1st choice school until March 1, so we probably won't hear anything from it until late March. She has been accepted, but we really need to know what the financial aid package will be.

Anyway sorry for the hijack; but it is a long way of saying apply where you want to go, and let the school come with the financial aid package to get you there.

[barbara-cook]

My son is a sophomore too, and while he's an average student, he excells in sports (baseball and basketball). We are hoping he'll be able to land some nice scholarship because by the time his two older step sisters are in college, there won't me much left to tap into. So we'll see!

I just went to a meeting where a speaker (Richard Pound) spoke about combining sports with academics in college. The whole thing is freaking me out. But this guy mentioned a few website to check:
www.NCAA.org
WWW.Princetonreview.com

Richard Pound is a former guidance counselor that now does public speaking (like the meeting I went to) and also sells a book on the subject at www.lulu.com/rick9.

Maybe these sites will help.

Good luck!

[MusicMom]

My DS is a senior and was accepted early decision to University of Virginia. He always went to Princeton Review and College Board for information about colleges. The Princeton Review has a questionnaire that helps identify schools that might match your needs and interests.

As a parent, I lurked at College Confidential until it made me hyperventilate from the stress of the high achievers (and I have one!). Boisewinesnob told me about the Admissionsadvice board, which is more easy-going and moderated by an admissions counselor.

I also read a great book by Loren Pope, Looking Beyond the Ivy League. Lots of good advice about finding a school that's right for you and how to present yourself. My DS preferred a book of sample essays.

Tenth grade is a good time to start looking into schools and their requirements. Some like to see 3 SAT IIs, so your DS has time to spread them out if he's taking the right level classes (math especially) I agree that he should start taking the SAT now so he gets used to the language and pattern of the questions.