There is a wealth of information to be found on the Internet concerning college admission and financial aid. Your first contact should be with your school counselor. They have earned college and advanced degrees and possess special credentials in counseling to serve your needs.
There are more than 4,100 colleges and universities in the United States. In addition to individual college and university Web sites, there are research sites that provide information on all types of colleges, sites that provide financial aid and scholarship information, and counseling sites that provide commercial services to assist with the college an d financial aid search and selection process.
The sheer volume of information regarding college admission on the Web can be overwhelming. A few tips listed below should help you in navigating through college counseling on the Internet:
- Find out whether a college counseling site charges a fee; some do and some do not.
- Be cautious about spending money on the Internet. Decide on limits before you log on.
- Decide how much personal information you want to reveal to create your “profile.”
- Keep in mind how much time it takes to fill our personal information. Only do it on sites you feel are specific enough to fit your needs.
Tips
- Do not try to search every site that has information on colleges—this is too time-consuming and leads to duplication of information. Instead, have a game plan of what you are looking for and you will be able to find information you need more quickly. If you are limiting your college search to institutions in a 60 mile radius of your home town or a specific region, make sure the site can list those alternatives for further investigation.
- If you are visiting an online counseling site, find out what credentials the online counselors have.
- If you are searching for colleges, make sure the data is up-to-date and accurate for the school year for which you wish to enroll.
Remember that the Web is a significant tool to be used in your exploration and decision making process. But, it is only one tool in the multifaceted process of college admission. Never eliminate the human element in this important growth experience. Discussions with your school counselor and visiting college campuses are invaluable.