Here is a list of some Web sites that might be useful, helpful, or just fun as you think about colleges, scholarships, financial aid, and careers. All of these sites contain information that is free of charge; some of them also offer further services for fees. You may also want to be cautious about giving up some of your privacy when you "register" on some of these sites. Most offer you the option to uncheck a box in order not to receive e-mail advertisements.

COLLEGE INFORMATION: GENERAL

http://www.collegeboard.com:/ - SAT information and registration, CSS Profile information (see Financial Aid), a variety of other college resources
http://www.act.org:/ - ACT online registration and information
http://www.educationconservancy.org:/ - site dedicated to the return of sanity in the college admission process; a must-read for students and parents
http://www.athleticaid.com:/ - information for student athletes about the recruiting process
http://www.ncaa.org:/ - National Collegiate Athletic Association site; information about registration for students who are capable of playing NCAA sports in college
http://www.nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cool/Search.asp:/ - college search site sponsored by National Center for Educational Statistics
http://www.review.com:/ - the Princeton Review site, with tips, advice, college search
http://www.collegequest.com:/ - the Peterson's site, with tips, advice, college search
http://www.collegesource.org:/ - more than 14,000 online college catalogs
http://www.collegeview.com:/ - the Hobson's site, with tips, advice, college search
http://www.commonapp.org:/ - online and downloadable Common Application site
http://education-portal.com:/ - directory of schools and original career- and education-related articles
http://www.embark.com/ - college info, online applications, tips
http://www.greekpages.com/ - info about fraternities and sororities on college campuses
http://www.collegenet.com:/ - online application system plus college search, etc.
http://www.mycollegeguide.org:/ - take the advice from this source with several grains of salt, and watch out for out-of-date info
http://www.number2.com:/ - free online SAT preparation
http://www.satprepplan.com:/ - free online SAT preparation
http://www.ctcl.com:/ - information about the colleges featured in the book Colleges That Change Lives
http://www.gocollege.com:/ - a little of everything, including college search and practice SAT and ACT tests

COLLEGE INFORMATION: SPECIFIC COLLEGES

(To find specific college Web sites, try www.(type in the name of the college).edu; in some cases, the name of the college may be abbreviated, but your computer's search engine will find it for you.)
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu:/ - University of California information
http://www.assist.org:/ - Statewide student transfer information for California students
http://www.csumentor.edu/ - California State University information (links to individual campuses)
http://www.californiacolleges.edu/ - Information about all types of colleges within California, plus financial aid and more
http://www.berkeley.edu:/ - UC Berkeley site
http://www.ucdavis.edu:/ - UC Davis site
http://www.uci.edu/ - UC Irvine site
http://www.ucla.edu:/ - UCLA site
http://www.ucmerced.edu:/ - UC Merced site
http://www.ucr.edu:/ - UC Riverside site
http://www.ucsd.edu:/ - UC San Diego site
http://www.ucsb.edu:/ - UC Santa Barbara site
http://www.ucsc.edu:/ - UC Santa Cruz site
http://www.fhda.edu:/ - Foothill-DeAnza site
http://www.smccd.net:/ - San Mateo County Community College District site (Cañada, College of San Mateo, Skyline)
http://www.nafeo.org:/ - representing Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)

SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID

http://www.fastweb.com:/ - a free scholarship search site
http://www.collegeboard.com:/ - information about the CSS Profile supplemental financial aid application for many private colleges; online calculator to determine Expected Family Contribution
http://www.finaid.org:/ - comprehensive financial aid information
http://www.csac.org:/ - California Student Aid Commission site (information about Cal Grants, etc.)
http://www.calgrants.org:/ - information about Cal Grants
http://www.collegegoalsunday.com:/ - lists free College Goal Sunday events where students and parents can go for assistance in filing the FAFSA
http://www.edfund.org/ - information about student loans
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov:/ - FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) on the Web
http://www.finaid.org/scholarships/scams.phtml: - information about scholarship scams
http://www.parentplusloan.com:/ - information about the federal PLUS (Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students) program
http://www.ronbrown.org:/ -Ron Brown Scholars program (minority scholarship information)
http://www.salliemae.com:/ - information about student loans and financial services for education, link to scholarship search
http://staffordloan.com:/ - information about the federal Stafford Loan program
http://www.studentscholarshipsearch.com:/ - free scholarship search program sponsored by student loan program
http://www.wiredscholar.com:/ - scholarship search, cost calculators, etc.
http://www.hsf.net:/ - Hispanic Scholarship Fund: scholarship information for Hispanic students

CAREERS AND JOBS

http://www.bridges.com:/ - planning for your future; check in the Career Center for info about how M-A users can get more out of this Web site
http://www.sfbaycareermap.com:/ - an interactive career decision-making tool with high school students in mind
http://stats.bls.gov/ocohome.htm: - the online version of the Occupational Outlook Handbook
http://www.education-online-search.com:/ - information about career programs and online classes

SUMMER PROGRAMS AND TIME OFF

http://www.americorps.org:/ - sponsored by the Corp. for Nat['l. and Community Service
http://www.cityyear.org:/ - sponsored by the National Youth Corps
http://www.dynamy.org:/ - information about an internship program
http://www.gapyear.com:/ - creative ways to take time off
http://www.globalservicecorps.org:/ - adventures and volunteer projects abroad to make a better world
http://www.nols.edu:/ - sponsored by the National Outdoor Leadership School, an organization that develops outdoor and leadership skills
http://www.outwardbound.org:/ - expeditions as learning and adventure education
http://www.petersons.com/summerop/sgeo-u.html:/ - links to summer programs throughout the U.S.
http://www.sca-inc.org:/ - Conservation Service Association - service and internship opportunities in conservation
http://www.seamester.com:/ - academic voyages for high school grads and college students
http://www.semesteratsea.com:/ - voyage opportunities for undergrads
http://www.studyabroad.com:/ - country, college, and course advice for students who wish to study abroad
http://www.takingtimeoff.com:/ - a companion Web site to the book of the same title
http://www.volunteers.com:/ - a summer service organization for high school students
http://www.wheretherebedragons.com:/ - learning opportunities through "rugged, creative, and engaging" expeditions off the beaten path
http://www.yfu.org:/ - Youth for Understanding International Exchange (opportunities abroad for high school students)

MISCELLANEOUS OTHER SITES

  http://www.apexlearning.com:/ - links with information about online courses