College Planning Resources

Big Future https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/ Provides college planning tools through free step-by-step guides available as early as middle school Allows students to search for colleges by location and/or major and provides comparison tools Application tips and best practices First-hand college search experiences

Common App http://www.commonapp.org/ Not just an application platform Plan Ahead feature includes: Why Go to College How to Prepare for College How to Pay for College Explore more than 700 member colleges Virtual Counselor includes videos with tips about finding the right fit and visiting colleges

My Coalition http://www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org/ Free digital locker space for students to keep track of their work Free collaboration space for students to connect with trusted advisors throughout the college planning process Students and counselors can use these tools without ever submitting an application

Khan Academy https://www.khanacademy.org/ Provides a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere by allowing students to learn at their own pace SAT prep includes personalized tutoring based on students’ test results Students can take up to 8 official full-length practice tests for free Studies have shown that 20 hours of Khan Academy test prep have increased scores by an average of 115 points

ACT Profile http://www.act.org/profile Interest Inventories allow students to explore career and major paths Free test prep through daily questions Estimated College Cost feature allows for comparison shopping

National Association of College Admission Counseling https://www Via the News & Publications section: Step by Step College Planning Guide Guide to the College Admissions Process Financial Aid…in 7 Easy Steps

CFNC https://www.cfnc.org College search database for North Carolina public and private schools Explore programs and majors to find the best fit Outlines specific college entrance guidelines Features the Transfer Planner to aid students in making the transition from community college to a 4-year institution Outlines opportunities for students with disabilities

Transfer Paths NC Public University NC Community College Associate of Arts Pathway Associate of Applied Science Earn 24 transferrable hours Earn an AA degree Career NC Public University with AA degree, student technically begins with credit for all General Ed classes, but has not gotten advising from university, so may have to retake classes. with AAS degree, student has likely taken a large number of courses that will not transfer, so may have to retake many classes in order to earn their degree. with 24 hours, student now meets minimum requirements for admission and can take most of their classes at the university-level.

Free Transfer Resources NC Community College Transfer Pathways Transfer articulation lists or systems University Catalogs Undergraduate Admissions professionals!

Advising Transfer Students What is their intended major? What university do they intend to go to after NC community college? Find that university’s community college pathways Give students resources and show them how to determine what classes to take. If you have questions, ask a professional! Let’s try an example!

Questions?