Researching College Online

Preparing your child for college can seem overwhelming. To make the process less daunting, break it into small steps. First step: Research. Grab your laptop, and college rankings, aid information, virtual tours and more are just a mouse click away. It’s never too early to start researching; even if your child is only in middle school, he or she may need to start focusing on certain subjects to get into a high school that will prepare him or her for college. So get online with your child and start exploring options in a low-pressure way. Consider these issues:

Major: Maybe your child already has a specific field of interest. If not, now is the time to get him or her thinking about it. Help your child investigate careers, and what majors typically lead to these jobs. If your child still can’t choose a specific interest, look for a college that offers a good general education.

Type of school: Options include public and private universities, community colleges, online degrees, and trade or vocational schools. Whichever type of school you consider, find out how it is ranked among others of its kind.

Faculty: What is the ratio of students to teachers? Will your student be taught by professors or graduate students? How big are classes, and how much attention will your child get?

Student life: What social and extracurricular options exist? Do most students live on or off campus? What intramural or athletics programs are offered?

Cost: In addition to tuition, consider books, other materials and living expenses. Find out what scholarships and financial aid options are available. Often, schools with higher tuition offer more generous aid packages, so don’t rule out a school based on the “price tag.”

Admissions. What test scores, grades and extracurricular activities are needed? What tests does your student need to take? Will he or she need to write an essay or get letters of recommendation? Find out when your child needs to sign up for tests, pay fees, send in applications, etc.

Get started at the following sites:

CollegeBoard: This site includes sections for students and parents. Students can register and prep for tests; use financial aid calculators; research majors and careers; and search colleges, scholarships and more. Students get “action plans” for each year of high school, and create an account to save information in an online organizer. The parent section is especially strong, with a wealth of articles to help you help your child. Topics include homework help, senioritis, lack of motivation and homeschooled children.

GoCollege: Although it does not offer a search feature or college ranking, this site is invaluable for how thoroughly and clearly it explains all aspects of the college selection process. GoCollege offers articles on preparation and admissions, college options, financial aid and college survival. You’ll find many questions you and your student should ask yourselves to narrow down the choices.

Princeton Review: In addition to information about colleges and graduate and professional schools, Princeton Review offers K-12 services such as tutoring, books and test prep. Look up college rankings, learn about majors and research careers. Your child can create a profile and get personalized school recommendations, take practice tests, and use the “Counselor-o-Matic” tool to find the right school. The free College Recruiter feature connects your child with schools interested in students like him or her.

Peterson’s: This site focuses on four areas: colleges and universities; graduate and professional schools; online and continuing education; and K-12 schools and programs. Within each category, your student can search schools or programs, get advice and tools to help pay for school, prepare for tests with interactive online courses and test prep materials, and chat online with experts. Beyond the traditional four-year college, this site offers options such as culinary schools; nursing schools; art, music, dance and theater programs; and civil service careers.

U.S. News and World Report: This site features current education news, and perhaps the best-known ranking of educational institutions, including colleges, graduate schools and high schools. View schools by options including specialty schools; schools for B students; schools with the highest graduation rate and more. At The Student Center, your child can discuss colleges, see videos of campuses, and access a calendar of test deadlines and college fairs. Parents will like the substantial section about paying for college.