College Prep Resources

College: What it’s All About and Why it Matters

You might think that college is just high school continued, but it’s not. College opens doors for you that high school doesn’t. And college can change you and shape you in ways that you might not imagine.

• Why Get a College Degree?  Learn about what attending college and earning a degree can do for your future.
• Why Go To College? Ready to move on after high school? Here are the benefits of pursuing higher education.
• The 4 Steps to College: Great list of steps on how to start the process, continue achieving in school, find the right college, and seek financial aid.

School Selection: Choosing the College that’s Right for You

The kind of college you choose to attend should reflect your goals and your personality. Whether you choose a public, private, community, technical, trade or even online college, make sure it’s the best match for you.

• College Scorecard – This new tool helps prospective students obtain important factors about universities such as graduation rates, salary after attending, percentage of students who pay back their loans, etc
• Step-by-Step College Search – There’s no magic formula for choosing a college, but this interactive guide will help by asking some questions that will direct your search.
• Find Your College Fit – Interactive tools on big future can help you research your options.
• YourUniversityTV.com – This dynamic and informational video-based website offers students a variety of tools: College Video Tours (558 of them to be exact), Career Videos, Student Connection Boards, all in a blog-type atmosphere.
• Find Affordable Colleges – This interactive guide will help you choose from the top affordable colleges in each state.

College Living

The transition from high school to college is a big step, and students are often surprised about how different the two environments can be.

• How College Differs from High School – From academics to extracurricular activities to social aspects, college differs from high school in a number of ways.
• Campus Life – What to expect, how to live independently, dorm living, how to live with a roommate, campus services, and more!

Don’t know where to start? Visit the ApplyTexas website and create an account today to start an application.

The transition to college requires students to complete many different forms and applications. Each form you submit has a different deadline and it is important to submit all documentation before the submission dates close. Please make sure to refer back to each college/university’s main website for current deadlines and admissions information.

Undergraduate Application Deadlines

• Texas A&M University-College Station
• University of Texas at Austin
• Sam Houston State University
• Texas Tech University
• Prairie View A&M University
• Tarleton State University
• University of Houston- Downtown
• Baylor University
• Rice University
• St. Edward’s University
• University of St. Thomas
• Our Lady of the Lake University
• Austin Community College
• Lone Star College
• Blinn College

Make sure you visit the website for the university you are interested in attending and double check specific deadlines. If you have any questions, feel free to email us.

What are the available admission tests, what is the difference between them, and which should you take? These are all common questions many students have. Read about each one and decide with your counselor and parents which are right for you.

• PSAT– The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a program cosponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). It’s a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT^®. It also gives you a chance to enter NMSC scholarship programs and gain access to college and career planning tools.
• SAT – The SAT is a globally recognized college admission test that lets you show colleges what you know and how well you can apply that knowledge. It tests your knowledge of reading, writing and math — subjects that are taught every day in high school classrooms. Most students take the SAT during their junior or senior year of high school, and almost all colleges and universities use the SAT to make admission decisions.
• ACT – The ACT is a national college admissions examination that consists of subject area tests in english, math, reading, and science. The ACT Plus Writing includes the four subject area tests plus a 30-minute Writing Test. ACT results are accepted by all four-year colleges and universities in the U.S.

Test Prep

Prepare for the tests that assess your academic readiness for college.

• How to Prepare for the Tests – Plan to do your best on the exams. Here are some tips to help you do that.
• Practice the SAT – There are several ways to practice the SAT exam, and lots of resources to help you study.
• Preparing for the ACT– A guide from ACT, Inc. which includes full length practice tests, strategies for testing, and discusses what to expect on test day. Also on the site, sample test questions to practice.

Important: If you received a Fee Waiver for the SAT/ACT you can avoid paying the application fees. Meet with your counselor and ask if you are eligible to receive a Fee Waiver. If you are on Free/Reduced Lunch you might be able to get one. Once you get it, make sure to submit the documentation.

Make College Affordable

Learn all about the FAFSA, theFree Application for Federal Student Aid, usually the first step in seeking financial aid for higher education.

FAFSA or TASFA? Which financial aid application should you use? This site will help you determine if you should use the TASFA or FAFSA. The TASFA is an application for financial aid for Texas residents who are not a permanent U.S. resident with an alien registration card, a conditional permanent U.S. resident with visa type I-551C, or an eligible noncitizen with an arrival/departure record (I-94).

Financial Literacy Tools

Cash Course: CashCourse is your guide to making informed financial choices. Get prepared for whatever life has in store: Register for a free account, and take charge of your money.

Scholarships

• Scholarship Experts – Get unlimited access to their scholarship database of 2.4 million scholarships worth over $14 billion.
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund – Apply for an HSF General College Scholarship. The application period is open January 1st through March 30th (extended deadline April 2nd 11:59 pm PST) for the following academic year.
• Scholarships for Cancer Survivors – To learn more about available scholarship opportunities by class level, browse our Scholarship Programs page.
• Own Your Own Future – Start owning your own future by exploring resources that will help you on your path to college. The whole site is organized by grade to make sure you get the exact info you need.
• U.S. Department of Education: All the information you need and any questions regarding loan payments, applying for grants and scholarships.

Wondering which career is right for you? Check out these resources.

• Exploring Career Information
• How To Get Started In Your Career Path
• Texas Gear Up

Career exploration:

• My Next Move
• Career One Stop

Explore new career opportunities:

• Texas Workforce Commission

Explore salaries:

• Pay Scale: College Salary Report

Create a LinkedIn profile:

• Learn how to create a profile on LinkedIn

Build a resume:

• Find out how to build a top-tier resume

Resume writing tips:

• Check out tips on writing a professional resume

Job interview tips:

• Learn how to ace your next interview

• Affordable Colleges Online has a great source of Resources and Scholarships for students with disabilities.
• Disability.Gov has created a fact sheet that provides an overview of the major federal student aid grant programs.
• Autism Speaks provides helpful information for the transition from high school to post-secondary education, employment, and independent living.
• NASFAA and Casey Family programs: Guide to Financial Aid Assistance to Students from Foster Care and Unaccompanied Homeless Youth
• Think College: share current events, provide resources and strategies, let you know about training events, and give you ways to talk to others. The information is for transition aged students as well as adults attending or planning for college. It provides resources and tools for students, families, and professionals.
• BestColleges: provides a collection of guides which include an outline of student rights, strategies for success, a listing of assistive technologies, and a curated list of scholarships.

Resources for Student Development

Students can begin paving the way to college early in their academic career. It is never too early to start putting more importance on grades, classes, extracurricular activities, service projects, study skills, and planning time to be a more successful student.

Students Going to College

• Collegeanswer.com
• Collegeboard.org
• Going2college.org
• mappingyourfuture.org

Homework Help

• Homework Help Videos – Over 3,000 videos offered in core subjects taught by experienced teachers.