Admissions & Financial Aid
Admissions: Introduction
True Merit Ensuring Our Brightest Students Have Access to Our Best College and Universities (article)
How Colleges Affect Social Mobility in America (article)
Student Story: College Expands Opportunity Khan Academy (video, 1 min)
Exploring College Options Khan Academy (multiple videos)
Ideal College Process Survey (worksheet)
The Test-Optional Surge (article)
Top Colleges Are Cheaper Than You Think (Unless You’re Rich) (article)
Admissions: College Selection
Find a College Use to look up specific college by name using Big Future by College Board
Overview: Exploring College Options Khan Academy (video, 3 min)
Test-Optional and Test-Flexible Schools in the first tier of their respective U.S. News ranks
Graduation Rates (College Results) Institutional rates, aggregate and broken down by race and year
Affordability (College Data) Average percentage of need met (% of need met is a searchable field)
Affordability (NCES.ed.gov) Net Price
Admissibility (College Board) Acceptance rate and average grades and test scores for admitted students
Admissibility (College Data) Acceptance rate and average grades and test scores for admitted students
Admissibility (College Scorecard) The U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard has the most reliable data on college costs, graduation, and post-college earnings.
Transition/Success Programs (I’m First) Colleges that are known for offering first-generation college student support
Comparing Highly Selective vs. Selective vs. Non-Selective Colleges Khan Academy (video, 5 min)
Identifying Schools College Board – Big Future, use search criteria to filter all colleges
- Create an Account to save school list on the College Board site
- College Organizer – Identifying Schools
Admissions: The Application
College Organizer – Honors & Awards
College Organizer – College Research
Unigo & Niche Every college has a different personality. These sites compile reviews based on student feedback.
Financial Aid: Overview
- FSA ID Needed for access to FAFSA
Admissions: Personal Statement Overview
Common App – Create an Account
Financial Aid: Personal Investigation
Student Story: Prioritizing Financial Aid in the College Search Khan Academy (video, 1 min)
CollegeData.com Activity Understand school cost and financial aid information
Net Price Calculator Activity National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS, Average amount full-time undergrad students actually pay per year
College Organizer – College Research
Undocumented Student Resources (USC Dornsife)
Undocumented Student Guide (USC Undergraduate Student Government)
Scholarships Activity (fastweb.com)
Why College is Money Activity Investigate salaries for entry-level positions after college
Admissions: Personal Statement Writing
How to Write a College Essay Step-by-Step: The Ultimate Guide Activity
Career Exploration
Career Exploration: Self-Assessment
Interests Activity My Next Move Interest Profiler (based on Holland’s Occupational Themes)
Strengths Activity Skills inventory to identify strengths
What are Your Values? Deciding What’s Most Important in Life Mind Tools (video, 2 mins)
Values Activity My Plan Career Values Assessment
Values Activity Make Money Choices
Career Exploration: Industry Investigation
Occupational Outlook Handbook Exploration Activity Find career information on duties, education, and pay
Economic Value of College Majors Activity Discover how much college graduates earn with specific college majors and in various regions of the country
Potential Earnings by College Activity Browse earnings by specific schools and majors
Career Exploration: Professional Development
College Organizer – Activities Common App Activities Builder Activity
What I Want In A Career: My Parachute
Should Students Major in What They Love? (article)
Career Exploration: Take Action
Elements of A Strong Recommendation Letter Khan Academy (video, 3 min)
The MIT Guide to Letters of Recommendation
Recommendations Brag Sheet (counselor)
Recommendations Brag Sheet (teacher)
Leadership and College Success
Leadership and College Success: Leadership Overview
Drew Dudley: Everyday Leadership TED (video, 15 min)
Re: Your Recent Email to Your Professor – Advice for Students so They Don’t Sound Silly in Emails (article)
Leadership and College Success: Psychology & Behavior
Amy Cuddy: Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are TED (video, 21 min)
Leadership and College Success: College Experiences
High Impact Educational Practices Association of American Colleges & Universities
How You Feel about Individualism is Influenced by Your Social Class (article)
Leadership and College Success: College Survival
Managing Time Effectively USC Kortschak Center (video, 5 min)
Imposter Syndrome: You’re Doing Better Than You Think SciShow Psych (video, 5 min)
On Campus, Failure Is on the Syllabus (article)
Spring is in the air, and so is rejection for high school seniors (article)
Appendix
Appendix A Ice Breakers, Quotes for Leadership Activity, Statements for Take a Stand Activity
Appendix C College Organizer – Login