College Planning Links

College Planning Links

  • Fairmont State University Engineering and Technology Building

    ACT-Information for Life's Transitions  - An online program combining career exploration with a database of the skills required in more than 1400 American occupations is now available FREE on ACT's website.

  • www.aboutcollege.com  - Here, you can post a question on this site, or read answers to questions asked by other students in the same situation as you.  Also, find tips from current college students about topics like making friends, managing your time, and surviving your first week.

  • Career Planning -  It's time to GEAR UP for your Career! GEAR UP has gathered a comprehensive list of resources to help you decide what career is most suited to you, and how to go about getting it!!

  • College Center -  Center for Student Opportunity College Center. A student gateway to college access, opportunity and success.

  • College Questions -  A GEAR UP page with a list of the most common questions you should ask when interviewing colleges.

  • College Search -  A GEAR UP page with a list of colleges, universities, and resources to use when searching for a college or financial aid.

  • www.collegeboard.org   - Everything you need to know and think about when going to college.  From how to chose a school or major, to preparing for standardized tests, this site will help walk you through the process.
  • College Goal Sunday USA  -  Every year College Goal Sunday offers FREE FAFSA help from financial aid professionals at sites around the country.

  • Federal Student Aid (FSA)   - The U.S. Department of Education's Federal Student Aid (FSA) programs are the largest source of student aid in America, providing nearly 70% of all student financial aid. Help is available to make education beyond high school financially possible for you or your child. The information provided here is designed to assist you in your college planning. It provides you with access to and information about the products and services that you will need throughout the financial aid process. Also,the Federal Student Aid Information Center has a toll-free number, available at 1-800-4-FED-AID. The TTY number is 1-800-730-8913. If you're calling from outside the US and can't access 800 numbers, you may call +1-319-337-5665.

  • Global Education   - Links to web sites and resources with information on study abroad and graduate programs, including directories with listings for a multitude of schools offering these programs.

  • NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program   -  The NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program (UGSP) for Individuals from Disadvantaged Backgrounds is now entering its sixth year. This exciting scholarship program is offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the federal government's premiere biomedical research agency. The UGSP offers a unique opportunity to a small group of undergraduates who are truly committed to pursuing careers in basic science and health-related research. Students can fill out their application on-line. All of the forms needed to apply are also available for download. Applications for the school year starting September 2003 are now available. Click here for the UGSP home page. 

  • Report on Getting Ready to Pay for College  - Using data from Parent and Youth Survey of the 1999 National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES: 1999), the National Center for Educational Statistics released, "Getting Ready to Pay for College: What Students and their Parents Know About the Cost of College Tuition and What They Are Doing to Find Out". The report studies what college bound students and their parents know about the cost of going to college as well as how their knowledge of costs affects preparation for college. It examines whether parents have begun to save for their children's education, gathered information on financial aid, and knew about various tax credits to assist in offsetting costs. The report also looks at the conservations students have with their parents, teachers, and counselors regarding college costs, college requirements, and the availability of financial aid.

  • SchoolsIntheUSA.com   - This site provides you with everything you need to know to find the career and college that are best for you.

  • www.students.gov  - Has a mission -- to give college students and those planning for college easy access to the information and services they need from the U.S. Government. How do we know what students need? We ask! Students tell us what they want and what they need, and we build the site for them. These online government services and information sources are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. On your time. From across your campus or around the world.

  • www.supercollege.com  - Need help writing an essay for a scholarship?  Check out this site! Also, Parents would enjoy the information about paying for college and how to help you during the transition to college that can be found here.

  • TestPrepReview   - This site provides you free review tests for ACT, SAT and many other entrance exams.

  • Think College Early - 7th & 8th Graders   - Anything is possible. The best time to begin planning for an education after high school is in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. Think College Early is here to help you take a look at your choices.

  • WestVirginiaMentor   - A service provided free of charge to help students and their families plan for college.

  • www.wiredscholar.com   - The "Planning for College Destination". This web site offers lots of helpful information about many aspects of planning and preparing for college.