Resources
Featured on this page are samples of college planning resources, financial aid resources, and career resources available to you. Take some time to explore each site as a way to help you make an informed decision about your future.
College
Paying for College
Career
Parent Resources
IECA Downloads
Military
College
- ACT – test your knowledge with the ACT Question of the Day, take a practice test, or register for the ACT
- American Indian College Fund – supports Native students’ access to higher education.
- ASVAB – learn about the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery and take a practice test
- CampusReel – “see” campuses across the U.S. through the eyes of current students’ video blogs.
- College Admission: From Application to Acceptance – get answers to your questions about college admissions
- College Board- Big Future – use this site to research colleges
- College Completion – search for and compare information about colleges using this site from The Chronicle of Higher Education
- College Essay Guy – many free resources for students, parents, and counselors on essay writing
- College Foundation of North Carolina – plan, apply, and learn how to pay for colleges in North Carolina
- College Navigator – use this site from the National Center for Education Statistics to research colleges
- College Reality Check – research information about the net price of colleges, graduation rates, and paying off student loans from The Chronicle of Higher Education
- College Results Online – improve your knowledge of retention and graduation rates from the Education Trust
- College Scoops – read the guides and the blog to assist with learning more about college campuses.
- Colleges That Change Lives – learn about 40+ liberal arts colleges with a proven track record.
- College Week Live – participate in live chat sessions with college representatives
- CollegeXpress – view this comprehensive site to search for colleges and scholarships, read informational articles, and explore lists and rankings
- Common Black College Application – apply to multiple HBCUs with one application and one fee
- Corsava – Based on a simple set of questions that can be completed in less than 15 minutes, our platform uses over 130,000 data points to match students’ deeper preferences with colleges where they can thrive and graduate.
- Hillel International – explore this site to learn more about the largest Jewish student organization
- I’m First – learn more about celebrating and supporting first-generation students.
- Khan Academy – create a free account to access tutorials on many subjects including free preparation for the SAT
- NCAA Publications – download rulebooks and guides for student-athletes for a variety of sports.
- Number2.com – try the free test prep for the SAT, ACT, and GRE
- Public University Honors – investigate this site dedicated to Honors programs at public universities and colleges
- Real Talk: College Board – Real Talk is a virtual college exploration initiative designed to connect Black students and families with Black representatives from colleges and college access organizations across the country.
- SAT – register for the SAT, take a practice test, and answer the SAT Question of the Day
- The College Solution – follow this popular blog by Lynn O’Shaughnessy to learn more about paying for college
- The Common Application – register for the application used by over 500 colleges and universities
- Women’s College Coalition – find a women’s college that’s right for you
Paying for College
- Cappex – research scholarships and learn more about colleges and universities
- COLLEGEdata – search for colleges and obtain financial info and other facts
- College Foundation of North Carolina – investigate information about scholarship, grants, and loans for North Carolina students
- CSS Profile – apply for institutional financial aid; this is a fee-based application
- Edvisors – learn about Filing the FAFSA.
- EFC Calculator – determine your Estimated Family Contribution using the Federal Methodology (FM) and Institutional Methodology (IM)
- FAFSA – register for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
- Fastweb – fill out your profile and register on this national database for scholarship opportunities
- Federal Student Aid – learn about financial aid available from the federal government and view resources on the FAFSA
- Federal Student Aid Estimator – Link
- FinAid – view this comprehensive website created by Mark Kantrowitz, a leading financial expert
- Hispanic Scholarship Fund – learn more about scholarship opportunities and other resources for Hispanic and Latino students
- Jump$tart’s Reality Check – figure out how much it will cost you based on a budget for shelter, transportation, food, utilities, communications, personal and other needs.
- North Carolina’s Reality Check – plan how to spend your money using this tool for the NC Department of Commerce.
- Point Foundation Flagship Scholarship – empowers LGBTQ students to access and succeed in their education at accredited four-year institutions in the United States.
- RaiseMe – earn college scholarships at more than 250 colleges by documenting your achievements.
- Scholarship Points – earn points to win scholarships
- Scholly – research scholarships on this app featured on Shark Tank
- TuitionFit – compare the price you’ve been offered against thousands of verified and anonymized financial aid awards offered to similar students by colleges all over the country.
TuitionTracker – view trends in sticker price vs. net price - UNCF – apply for scholarships through the largest private minority provider of scholarships
- Unigo – register for personalized scholarship results
Career
- 2022 Career Outlook, Occupational Outlook Handbook -Field of Degree: explore a variety of academic fields using data fand information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the U.S. Census Bureau.
- Be An Actuary – explore this risk management career for math lovers.
- Career Cornerstone Center – explore comprehensive STEM career planning resources.
- Career OneStop – explore careers, education & training, salaries & benefits, and other career information
- Careers Out There – watch videos from real people in real professions
- College and Career Conversations w/Dr. B – listen and learn as Dr. B interviews professionals in a variety of career fields. The Representation Matters playlist focuses on Black and brown career professionals. Click here for conversations organized by careers.
- College Foundation of North Carolina – plan for a career using tools and resources on this North Carolina site
- College Majors 101 – view career videos, research majors, and read industry publications
- Cumberland County – Human Resources – explore job opportunities in Cumberland County, NC
- Dr. Kit Career Videos – watch more than 300 videos where employees answer questions about their professions.
- Explore The Trades – research the opportunities available for careers in Plumbing, HVAC, and Electrical.
- Gladeo – take a career quiz, watch career spotlights and engage in learning about a variety of careers.
- How I Built This with Guy Raz – discover how some entrepreneurs created their companies in this engaging podcast.
- Jobs Made Real – view career videos created for teens by teens.
- My Future – research career, college, and military opportunities
- My Next Move – discover and explore career pathways using this U.S. Department of Labor sponsored site
- National Council of Architectural Registration Boards – expand your knowledge of becoming an architect.
- National Organization of Minority Architects – learn about the mission and vision of this organization for historically underrepresented architects.
- Next Generation in Trucking Association – discover and learn about trucking as a positive career field.
- North Carolina Department of Labor – browse this state website for labor rules, state regulations, and information about apprenticeships
- NurseJournal – an open forum to learn more about the nursing profession
- O*NET – investigate occupations with a bright outlook, learn about green occupations, and access career assessment tools
- Occupational Outlook Handbook – use this online guide to learn about hundreds of occupations
- Open Plan – enjoy this podcast about the architect profession with cohosts Emily Khalid and Maria Pastorelli.
- PAsDoThat! – gather information about a career as a PA (Physician Assistant) and take a quiz to test your knowledge about PAs.
- Pharmacy is Right for Me – gain new insights and information about a career in Pharmacy
- Roadtrip Nation – enjoy this lively site that explores life experiences
- Skills to Pay the Bills – use this series of videos on soft skills to increase your workplace knowledge.
- Tech Wrap Queen – join host Reneé Reid in conversation with Black and Brown professionals in Tech, Design, and Culture.
- The Society of Fire Protection Engineers – learn about using science and technology to make the world’s structures safe from fire.
- Wood Industry Resource Collaborative – read about careers such as cabinetmaker, woodworking machinist, flooring sander and more.
Parent Resources
Books
- College Success for Students with Disabilities: A guide to finding and Using Resources, with Real-World Stories by Irene Ingersoll
- Crazy U : One Dad’s Crash Course In Getting His Kid Into College by Andrew Ferguson
- From High School To College: Steps to Success for Students with Disabilities by Elizabeth C. Hamblet
- Grown & Flown: How To Support Your Teen, Stay Close As A Family, And Raise Independent Adults by Lisa Heffernan and Mary Dell Harrington
- Her STEM Career: Adventures of 51 Remarkable Women, Book 1 by Diane Propsner
- Let the Journey Begin: A Parent’s Monthly Guide to the College Experience by Jacqueline Kiernan MacKay and Wanda Johnson Ingram
- Never Too Late: The Adult Student’s Guide To College by Rebecca Klein-Collins
- The Financial Aid Handbook: Getting the Education You Want for the Price You Can Afford by Carol Stack and Ruth Vedvik
- The Price You Pay For College: An Entirely New Road Map for the Biggest Financial Decision Your Family Will Ever Make by Ron Lieber
- The Privileged Poor: How Elite Colleges Are Failing Disadvantaged Students by Anthony Abraham Jack
- The Stressed Years of Their Lives: Helping Your Kid Survive and Thrive During Their College Years by B. Janet Hibbs, Ph.D., M.F.T. & Anthony Rostain, M.D., M.A.
- The Truth About College Admission: A Family Guide to Getting In and Staying Together by Brennan Bernard and Rick Clark
- The Years That Matter the Most: How College Makes or Breaks Us by Paul Tough
- Toward College Success: Is Your Teenager Ready, Willing, and Able? by P. Carol Jones and Patricia Wilkins-Wells
- You’re On Your Own (But I’m Here If You Need Me): Mentoring Your Child During the College Years by Marjorie Savage
- Your Turn: How to Be an Adult by Julie Lythcott-Haims (great birthday and graduation gift)
Blogs
- Georgia Tech Admission Blog – provides a fresh perspective on college admission.
- Grown and Flown – covers issues of raising kids 15 – 25.
- Notes From Peabody: The UVA Admission Blog
- Compass Education Group – latest news on standardized testing
- Expert’s Corner – up-to-date advice from Applerouth (all things test-related)
- Inside Admissions – Tufts University
- Jon Boeckenstedt’s Admissions Weblog – Vice Provost of Enrollment Management, Oregon State. His data blog is Higher Ed Data Stories
- The College Solution – follow Lynn O’Shaughnessy for financial strategies and tips for college planning.
- Tulane University, Office of Undergraduate Admission Blog – Hear from the Admissions Officers
IECA Downloads
Military
- ASVAB Prep Resources – provides a variety of resources to help tudents navigate the ASVAB.
- Federal Grants – investigate opportunities for federal assistance for college expenses
- Futures Magazine – read and learn about opportunities, benefits, and other topics of interest in the military.
- The Military Guide – use this online guide to evaluate educational experiences in the military.
- US Department of Veteran Affairs, Comparison Tool – use this tool to compare GI Bill benefits by school
- US Department of Veteran Affairs, Education and Training – research your military education benefits
- US Department of Veteran Affairs, Education and Training, – explore information about the Yellow Ribbon Program.
- US Department of Veteran Affairs, Transferability – check out the facts about transferability Post 9/11 GI Bill
