Getting Ready for College
College Search, Testing and Applying
The College Board
- Search for colleges
- Register for SAT and SAT Subject tests and access free prep materials
- View your PSAT and SAT scores and send them to your colleges
- View your AP scores and access free prep materials
- Explore majors and careers
- Apply for financial aid using the CSS/Profile
The Common Application
- Apply to colleges using the most commonly recognized online application: almost 700 colleges are Common App schools
- Start any time, then update your application August 1 before senior year
- Great for tracking your application deadlines, test requirements, letters of recommendation, and more
- Both the University of Idaho and College of Idaho accept this application
- For all other Idaho colleges and universities, go to each school's website to fill out their application
Financial
FAFSA
- FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid
- Many colleges require that you use this application to apply for financial aid
- Fill this out after October 1 of student's senior year using tax numbers from the prior year
- For an estimate of financial aid, use the FAFSA Forecaster below
CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE
- Most private colleges use the PROFILE method to determine your financial aid
- All Idaho colleges and universities use the FAFSA method, above
FAFSA Forecaster
- Find out your chances of getting Federal Financial Aid without filing. This is where Pell Grants and Student Loans come from.
- You can get an estimate years before you actually need to apply: you don't create an ID. You can just run the calculator.
EFC Calculator
- EFC is your Expected Family Contribution: the amount financial aid offices will expect your family to pay each year for college
- This website runs a "ballpark" computation of your EFC based on your estimated income and assets
Federal Student Aid Information
- Explains federal grant and loan options in detail: you'll be an expert after spending some time here.
- Links to the applications for federal grants and loans
Finaid
- Search engine for scholarships
Athletics
NCAA
- Here's where you get started if you're thinking about competing in college.
- Register for the NCAA Clearinghouse if you are starting to talk to coaches.
- Read up on all DI, DII and DIII colleges, and every sport.
- Understand the recruiting process, rules, timelines.
- Check your academic eligibility: includes high school academic requirements like course lists and SAT/ACT scores.
NAIA
- Includes many smaller colleges
- Comparable to DIII but offers athletic scholarships
NJCAA
- National Junior College Athletic Association
- Can be a good transition in to college for students who need more time to mature as an athlete or student