Deciding what college you want to go to can be an exhausting experience. You want to make sure it has the right degrees and programs, you want it to be affordable and you want it to be in a desired location. Sometimes it’s hard trying to find a school that fits your needs and wants all on your own, but there are actually plenty of online resources available to help you.
Rather than spend hours trying to figure everything out on your own, use the following four websites to make choosing the right college easier on you.
1. College Confidential
CollegeConfidential contains a great deal of information about all things college. The site will help you choose which college you want to go to by letting them know what you’re looking for in a school. If you want to choose a school based on its sorority life, majors, location, sports or even party scene, College Confidential will let you see lists of schools that fit your priorities.
The website also provides you with great tips on applying for college. You can be guided through the entire admissions process in order to give you the best possible chance of getting accepted.
College Confidential also provides you with great information on your options of paying for college. It will set you up with a list of scholarships, grants and financial aid that you can apply for in order to get into college without the hefty price tag. Once you get into the school, you can use the discussion boards to find real-life advice from other students at that school.
And if your parents want some extra resource on the school you’re applying to, they can use College Confidential for their own information.
2. Education Connection
EducationConnection helps match students with accredited online and traditional universities. You can take aptitude tests to determine which career path is best for your individual personality, and this can help you determine which school would be best for your needs. If you already know what career you want, then you can use this information to allow Education Connection help you make the best decision for your future.
Education Connection also includes other resources. You can find out the differences between attending an online college versus a traditional college, and you can even read tips and suggestions on things to know about applying for college and what to expect. You can also read blog posts to learn more information about college and the whole process, as well as learn more information about how to get money for school.
3. Campus Explorer
Whether you want to search for schools by their degree types or by their locations, CampusExplorer can help you make the best decision. Along with each college review, there is also an advice section that is from real students. This advice is there to help prospective students learn valuable tips before they apply or while they’re applying.
The site also contains a great deal of information about different schools and different programs so students can decide which school or program is the best choice for them. You can also learn how to pay for college and read information posted by other students about the college application process. If you sign up for the My Planner option, you will also be able to keep all of your college search information in one easy-to-locate place, making your college search more organized.
4. My Plan
MyPlan contains great advice for high school students who are interested in pursuing a career or a college after graduation. The site contains a great deal of information on different career choices as well as information on majors and colleges. You can even search for a college based on location, cost, major, etc., and all the colleges listed are ranked by specific factors in order to provide you with the best and most accurate information for your choice of school.
If you have no idea what career path you want to take, you can take their career assessment test to help you make a better decision for your future.
William Spears is a college English Professor. In his spare time, he likes to blog and give students advice regarding college application essays.