tools of the trade resources every counselor should know about
TRANSCRIPT
What are you searching for?
Answers to questions!
Different areas of study Descriptions of colleges Deadlines and policies Information you never knew you needed!
Search Engines: Building a List
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/
Naviance – Hobson’s database
Many, many others – but buyer beware Students’ names may be sold
Counseling Resource Books
Rugg’s Recommendations on the Colleges
(The counselor cheat sheet!)
Generally recognized strong programs in a range of academic areas:
Business Creative Writing
Engineering E-Commerce International Relations Health Services
Administration Pre-Med Musical
Theater Psychology Sports
Medicine
Counseling Resource Books: The College Board Book of Majors
•List of every college that offers a particular major
•Explanations of what students will encounter in different areas of study
•Listings of combined bachelor’s/graduate degree programs
Counseling Resource Books: The College Finder by Steven Antonoff
• Colleges supportive of learning or physical disabilities
• Colleges with large/active Greek systems
• Colleges for the shy student• Colleges where students with
Asperger’s succeed• Gay-friendly colleges• Honors programs that make large
universities feel small• Community colleges with on-
campus housing• Strong academic programs• Strong sports teams
And More!
Fiske Guide to Colleges• 2-3 page portrait of a
college
• Overlap schools – follow the bread crumbs!
• Tells whether or not the college meets full need
• Tells if interviews are available, required, or recommended
• Students like academic/ social/ quality of life ranks
• Indexes in front: colleges with support for LD students, colleges by cost, test optional colleges
The Best 377 Colleges From The Princeton Review
• Descriptions of campus life
• Stats on numbers admitted early or from waitlist
• “The Inside Word” – tidbits about the reading process
• Lists of colleges based on student survey results:
Most/Least accessible professorsHappy studentsGreat food/dorms
Colleges That Change Lives by Loren Pope
•“40 schools you should know about even if you’re not a straight-A student”
•Small, supportive college communities
•They offer college fairs around the country
•www.ctcl.org
What your students read!
College Prowler: https://colleges.niche.com/ Reviews written by college students
College Confidential:
http://www.collegeconfidential.com/ Online discussion forum
Remember: No one source tells the whole story!
Counseling Resource Books: The College Board College Handbook
•Snapshot information of all 4- and 2-year US colleges
•Lists of colleges by admit rate
•ED/EA Table lists deadlines by college and some application/admit numbers
•Colleges that require or recommend subject tests
•Lists of Historically Black Colleges, Hispanic-Serving Colleges, Tribal Colleges
The K&W Guide to Colleges for Students with Learning Disabilities or ADHD
Sorts colleges by different levels of support, complexity of services offered
Where in the World is….?
The College Atlas & Planner from Wintergreen Orchard House
Atlas maps of colleges by state Helpful tool for planning college visit trips
Professor Pathfinder’s Colleges and Universities of the United States
Wall map of 1200+ major colleges www.uscollegemaps.com
Inside College Admissions
Admissions Confidential: An Insider’s Account of the Elite College Selection Process by Rachel Toor
The Gate-Keepers: Inside the Admissions Process of a Premier College by Jacques Steinberg
Ongoing Learning
www.hscounselorweek.com
Chronicle of Higher Education
Professional E-lists/online communities NACAC TACAC ACCIS