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Whether you are searching
for undergraduate programs, or thinking about returning
to school after years in the workforce, the World
Wide Web offers numerous helpful sites. From choosing
an educational institution, to choosing a career
path, to finding the money to pay for it all, the
following sites should point you in the right direction
for making an informed choice.
Printed materials are
also readily available at your local branch of the
Ocean County Library. College and university directories
geared towards students of all levels and interests
may be checked out. Applications for taking the
SAT, GED, LSAT, or the FAFSA form for financial
aid, may all be picked up, or printed out from the
Internet, at your local branch. For a report on
crime on college and university campuses in the
United States, see The Chronicle of Higher Education,
May 28,1999 issue, available at the Toms River Branch
periodicals department.
Planning
for College or Graduate School
College
Board Online
A great starting point
for researching college or graduate schools. Their
College
Search database attempts to match you up with
a college or university fitting your academic, financial,
and geographic needs. Sign up for the SAT, then
read through the numerous essays which take you
through the entire application process- from the
personal statement and meeting deadlines to finding
financial aid-including their searchable scholarship
database.
Mapping
Your Future
This site is geared toward high school juniors
and seniors considering their future options. The
site was created by a group of guaranty agencies
active in the Federal Family Education Loan Program
and is useful for its straightforward, clear essays.
Prospective students may stock up on tips for researching
colleges, locating financial aid, and planning your
future career.
Need
to take a test?
Take practice tests online! Please visit our
Online Resources page for LearnExpressLibrary
Get
Live Homework Help
- Please visit our Online Resources
page for more information.
Check out these links
and contacts for receiving further information and
application forms. While some branches of the Ocean
County Library receive paper applications, not all
do. Call ahead to inquire!
GED
GED test takers must register
for the test by contacting an official GED
Test Taking Center. For more information,
check out the New
Jersey Department of Education's page on registering
for the GED.
LSAT
To register for the LSAT
online first register with their
Website. To request a paper application and information,
fill out the online
order form.
The Educational Testing Service (ETS) administers
many tests for higher education.
Click here to download
registration information and applications
for the GMAT, Praxis,
GRE, or TOEFL
exams. These documents are .pdf formats so you will
need to have Adobe Acrobat installed on your PC.
MOLIS:
Minority Online Information Services
Excellent for its fact-filled database of
over 264 minority institutions, this site houses
a wealth of educational resources. MOLIS provides
information on minority institutions, research centers,
research interests and capabilities, facilities,
equipment, faculty profiles, statistics on the number
of degrees awarded and enrollment figures, scholarship
and fellowship information, and federal opportunity
information.
Peterson’s
Colleges & Universities
Another commercial site, but still worthwhile.
This online version of the many Peterson College
and University guides is easy to navigate and a
quick way to find the essentials about colleges
and universities. Search by type of school (undergraduate,
business, culinary, distance learning, etc.). A
full overview of basic but necessary information
is presented, such as areas of study, student and
faculty profiles, admission profiles, and expenses.
Don’t forget to check out Peterson’s scholarship
page Collegequest.
Directories
All
About College
An easy to use directory of college and university
web pages and admissions’ e-mail addresses from
around the world. Also includes listings for graduate
schools, with separate directories for medical
schools, business schools, law, and graduate engineering
programs.
COOL-
College Opportunities OnLine
Sponsored by the US Dept. of Education,
this directory for 9,000+ universities and colleges
in the United States can be narrowed down by region,
state, programs and degrees available. Click on
any college or university name from your search
results page, and an overview of courses, degrees
awarded, and tuition statistics is given, plus telephone
numbers for admissions and financial aid offices
and a link to the institution’s homepage.
GradSchools.com
A huge directory for finding web pages for
graduate and postgraduate programs on a global scale.
Choose the program you are interested in, then narrow
down your search by choosing a country or state.
Each program includes the admissions mail and e-mail
address, web page address, and a short blurb that
most likely was written by that university.
OPE
Campus Security Statistics Website
The Office of Post secondary education has compiled
and provided access to statistics collected by universities
and colleges in the United States concerning reported
criminal offenses occurring on campus, or to students
in areas surrounding the campus. All schools that
are Title IV eligible must make their campus security
report available.
University
Links
A massive directory linking to higher education
institutions on the web. Over 2200 colleges, universities,
trade schools and much more are listed, grouped
by category or state. Search by type of school,
such as University, Catholic, historically black
schools, culinary schools, and much more.
College
Life
Campus
Tours
What
better way to find out about a campus than to take
a virtual tour of it? Search for a college or university
by name or geographic area, then check out a virtual
tour, take a look at campus pictures, or explore
an interactive map. Note that not every campus offers
all three visual experiences. Bulletin boards with
postings by prospective students and matriculated
students on a variety of topics round out this site.
Non
Traditional Students
Back
to College
Created for adults, or
"non traditional" students, considering
going back to school, this site offers advice and
research for choosing a program. Topics covered
include choosing a program, financial aid, and dealing
with the life adjustment of returning to school.
College
and University Rankings
US
News Online- College and Career Special Issue
Online edition of their
special issues ranking colleges and graduate programs.
College
and University Rankings
After seeing how your college
or university choices fared in the rankings, learn
more about how they are ranked, and the controversy
such rankings have caused. In addition, this site
is a directory for specialized rankings beyond academic
reputation. A bibliography of print resources ranking
higher education programs is included.
Financial
Aid
College
is Possible
Created for under-grads and their families,
this site has information on preparing for college,
choosing a college, and paying for college. Articles
for parents and for students cover topics such as
being academically prepared for college, exploring
career possibilities, and methods of saving money.
Some of the articles are in Spanish or English.
E
Student Loan
Students considering loans to defray college
costs would be well served by this Web site. A glossary
of lingo used on applications complements the clear,
understandable explanations of the financial aid
process. A loan finder database attempts to match
the user up with appropriate loans.
NJ
Higher Education Student Assistant Authority
New Jersey offers a multitude of ways
to assist students realize their dreams of attending
college.
Several scholarships are available, as are
loans, grants, and
NJBest, a savings plan administered by the New
Jersey Higher Education Assistance Authority.
Student
Financial Assistance- US Dept. of Education
A service of the federal Department of Education,
this site offers advice for students concerned about
paying for college and graduate school with scholarships,
work-study programs, and loans. You may also look
up school
codes, or fill out the FAFSA
form.
Calculators
Budgeting
for College
An online
calculator from the Bank of America- excellent because
it breaks down a budget from tuition to dorm/rent
to clothing allowance and other necessities, such
as all of those quarters you’ll need for the
laundry, that you might not think to budget for.
College
and Student Loan Calculator
Help develop a savings plan for their, or their child's, college education. To use this tool you will need to enter your current savings amount, the rate of return, your monthly contributions, and the education cost inflation. You can print out your results in terms of balances and expenses by the year or total costs by child.
College
Costs Calculator
This site from www.usnews.com
allows you to compute and compare prices for up
to 3 colleges.
Scholarship
Databases
Collegequest
This
is the scholarship database compiled by Petersons,
a major publisher of educational resources. Although
you do need to register to use this site, the questionnaire
is short and relatively harmless. It’s worth
it- you’ll have access to a database of over
2,000 scholarship and grant programs for undergraduates.
FASTaid
Billing itself as the oldest and largest
private sector scholarship database, this is the
online version of "The Scholarship Book"
by Prentice Hall. This is a good scholarship search
to try if you do not qualify based on financial
need.
FastWeb
Search
for scholarships or the right college in the databases
compiled here at FastWeb. After you’re finished
filling out your user profile, any new scholarships
added to their database that fits your criteria
are stored for you in your mailbox.
FinAid:
The Financial Aid Network
This site attempts to cover all the bases on
the issue of financial aid for students. Different
types of aid available to students, such as loans,
scholarships, and military aid, are examined. Their
essay on scholarship scams is a must read as well!
Calculators, tips on figuring out the mountains
of financial aid paperwork, and an "Ask the
Aid Advisor" e-mail link are provided. Also
links to scholarship databases, plus some major-specific
scholarship databases.
FundFinder
Maintained by the College
Board, this database attempts to match the student
up with appropriate scholarships, loans, and even
internships, all from non-college sources.
Mach
25
This
is the scholarship database from www.collegenet.com,
another useful site for college information. Undergrad
and graduate level students should be able to find
scholarships to apply for; over 600,000 awards are
indexed in this database. A big plus is their promise
never to collect and distribute information that
you give to them when searching to third parties.
SallieMae
The information
listed in their database includes a variety of funding
sources, such as scholarships, loans, internship
competitions, and tuition waivers. SallieMae will
search their scholarship database and send you the
results to your e-mail address within 24 hours.
You must have a valid e-mail address for this service,
adobe acrobat (freeware from the web), plus enough
time to fill out the form in one shot.
SRN
Express - Scholarship Resource Network Express
This site offers informative essays explaining
the financial aid process, decoding the lingo used
on forms and offering tips on getting scholarships
and paying back loans. Be sure to search their scholarship
database: money for students in undergrad and
graduate programs are indexed here (requires a short
registration).
Distance
Learning
Distance
Education and Training Council
Offers a directory of institutions accredited
by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education
and Training Council, an independent board of this
nonprofit educational organization. Recognized by
the Federal Department of Education and the Council
for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Search
for programs by subject, degree programs, high school
programs, or browse the index of accredited institutions.
NJ
Virtual University
Placed online by the state of New Jersey, this
site offers a searchable database of over 1000 credit
and noncredit courses offered via distance learning
by New Jersey educational institutions. You may
search for what you want by browsing fields of study,
looking at specific colleges, or how the course
is given, or a combination of all.
Take
A Class
Created for working adults interested in
continuing their education, this site has everything
from essays about balancing work and school, to
databases for searching for courses.
World
Lecture Hall
Links
to course outlines and info put online by professors.
Includes distance learning material…search by
keyword or browse subject listings.
Admissions
The
Common Application
Why fill out individual applications for
a multitude of colleges and universities when you
can streamline the process with this single form?
The Common Application is a service of the National
Association of Secondary School Principals. You
can download the most recent version of the Common
App — for either Mac or Windows — at their
site.
Other
NCAA
Online
The National Collegiate Athletic Association
is the organization through which the nation’s
colleges and universities speak and act on athletics
matters at the national level. It is a voluntary
association of more than 1,200 institutions, conferences,
organizations and individuals devoted to the sound
administration of intercollegiate athletics. Links
to programs and scholarships are listed.
Study
Abroad
Considering
broadening your horizon geographically and academically?
Take a look at this web site, where you can find
programs worldwide on a variety of subjects for
credit. Break down your search by length of study,
or simply by subject.
University
and Financial Aid Information Resources in Print
Undergrad College and University Directories
These books provide the basic information needed
to begin your search for the right college. Find
statistics on the student and professor population,
admissions, and degrees offered.
Peterson's 2 year colleges
Considering an associate degree? Use this book to
help you find the right institution.
Barron's profiles of American colleges Peterson's
four year colleges
Both of the above provide the basics: student statistics,
tuition and fees, financial aid information, majors
available, and admissions contacts.
The Fiske Guide to Colleges
by Edward B. Fiske with Robert Logue and the Fiske
Guide to college staff.
The Fiske Guide provides an overview of the school's
academic and social atmosphere in an essay format.
Students are surveyed for their opinions, and often
are quoted in the text for a first-hand account
of what it's like to attend the school.
Specialized Directories
The Ocean County Library owns a number of directories
for specific programs of study, including Nursing,
Law, Medicine, and Science.
A Guide to College Programs in Culinary Arts, Hospitality,
& Tourism
This international guide to the service industry
lists programs on a variety of levels, from certificates
and associate degrees, to graduate level programs.
Each entry includes program descriptions, admissions
information, tuition and fees, financial aid information,
special features, and graduation requirements.
Peterson's Professional Degree Programs in the Visual
& Performing Arts
Over 1,000 programs in studio art, music, dance,
and theater are described.
Barron’s Guide to Graduate Business Schools
Scholarship Directories
These books gather and index scholarships from private
organizations, as well as universities. Some include
scholarships on a variety of descriptions, while
others are more specialized.
Peterson's College money handbook
This book compiles financial aid packages available
for specific colleges and universities. A chart
is set up, detailing the number of students applying
for, and the number of students receiving financial
aid, and most distressing, the average graduate's
indebtness upon completion of their degree.
Free money for graduate school by Laurie Blum.
Find more than 1,000 grants and scholarships sources
for free money for Graduate studies in this directory
.The number of grants and scholarships from smaller,
and not as well known resources is commendable.
Athletic scholarships: thousands of grants--and
over $400 million--for college- bound athletes
Created for athletes hoping to attend a two or four
year college. This resource lists contact information,
tips on what each school looks for, athletic resumes,
and timetables for when coaches recruit.
The Black student's guide to scholarships (1999:
5th ed.)
This directory lists financial aid resources for
black and minority students from a variety of sources.
Financial Aid Information
These books include and go beyond scholarships to
discuss different methods of paying for higher education.
Loans, grants, and opportunities for work study
are examined. Some books also offer tips and strategies
for locating and writing successful scholarship
and grant applications.
Directory of financial aids for women, 1999-2001
Gail Ann Schlachter .
Financial aid for African Americans 1999-2001 Gail
Ann Schlachter, R. David Weber.
Financial aid for Hispanic Americans 1999-2001 Gail
Ann Schlachter, R. David Weber.
All of the above three have collected and compiled
scholarships, loans. Grants, awards, and internships
specifically set aside for women, Hispanic Americans,
or African Americans.
How to Go to College Almost for Free: the secrets
of winning scholarship money Ben Kaplan
The author writes from experience: he was able to
secure $90,000 dollars worth of scholarship money
for his first year at Harvard University.
JK Lasser Pro New Strategies for College Funding
Helps soon to be college students to begin saving
for tuition before the bills come in.
Winning scholarships for college: an insider's guide
Marianne Ragins.
This is the guide to read to learn how to win scholarships.
Tips on finding scholarships, writing essays, and
test taking skills are offered.
FAQ
1. What is the difference between grant,
scholarship, loans, and work-study?
A. Grants and scholarships are financial
aid that does not have to be paid back. Loans must
be paid back, plus interest.
Work-study consists of some sort of job at
the college or university you attend.
2. What kind of loans does the US government
offer?
A. They have the Federal Family Education
Loan Program. There are: Federal Stafford Loans
Federal Plus Loans, Federal Consolidation Loans.
Go directly to the
Student Financial Assistance Web site from the US
Dept. of Education to learn more about student
loans.
3. What kind of financial aid does the state
of New Jersey offer?
A. Go directly to the
NJ Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.
From here you can learn more about state scholarships,
grants, loans, and college savings plans.
4. Is there a single list of every scholarship
available for residents of New Jersey?
A. Not really. You can access state scholarships
and financial aid programs from the
NJ Higher Education Student Assistance Authority
Web site, however that won't include scholarships
from private organizations. Talk to your school's
guidance councilor, contact local civic organizations
(a listing is available in the
Ocean County Library's Resource Directory),
and browse through the numerous scholarship directories
in the library's collection.
5.Can I use any federal or state loan at
any college?
A. No. Check with the financial aid department
of the school you plan on attending to see what
types of loans they accept.
6. What about loan cancellations or forgiveness?
A. Guidelines differ based upon which loan
you have. Follow these links for more information:
For
Direct and FFEL Stafford Loans click here
For
Perkins Loans click here
7. What about loan cancellations for
those who go into the teaching field?
A. Those who teach in low-income areas, or
subject-matter shortage areas may qualify to have
their loans forgiven. Click here for more information.
Special
Resources - Colleges in New Jersey
Not every
institute of higher education in New Jersey has
a web site. Be sure to check out some of our printed
college guides and directories for a more complete
listing of educational opportunities in New Jersey!
Got
questions? We have answers!
Researched
and Compiled by K. Sparks Fusco
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