A good summer program can give you a chance to sharpen your academics or try new experiences. It helps you
get in to college and do better once you are there. Some possibilities:

• A program located on a college or university campus (such as Upward Bound)
• A youth-serving program at a community organization
• A program offering an academic boost in reading, writing, math, and study skills
• A program with a special focus (journalism, science, drama, music)
• Outdoor adventure, travel, or self-discovery programs
  

How do you find the right summer program for you?

• Ask your counselor and teachers.
• Keep an eye out for posters on bulletin boards—places where summer opportunities for students are publicized.
• Check out Upward Bound.This national program arranges for high school students like you to spend 4-6 weeks living and studying on a nearby college campus. Upward Bound students are four times more likely to earn an undergraduate degree than students from similar backgrounds who did not participate in the program.

College Board
www.collegeboard.com
In addition to providing all the information you need about the PSAT and SAT, the College Board website has tools for planning for, finding, and applying to college. It offers an interactive tool called “My Organizer” that is well worth signing up for.

ACT, Inc.: A Student Site for ACT Test Takers
www.actstudent.org
Includes information about registering for the ACT, test prep, financial need estimator, and tips on college and career planning

KnowHow2Go
www.knowhow2go.org
A website by the National Ad Council and the American Council on Education with practical tips for making our way to college..

CSOCollege Center
www.csocollegecenter.org
A website targeted at first-generation, low income, and minority students. Includes an “ask the experts” section where you can send in questions online.

Prep for College Calendar
www.nacac.com
The National Association for College Admission Counseling explains what you can do in your high school freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior years to prepare for college.

Choosing the Right College
www.collegeispossible.org
A list of recommended websites, books and brochures from College Is Possible.

Black Excel
www.blackexcel.org
Especially dedicated to African-American families, the website includes information about preparing for college, scholarships, historically black colleges (including virtual tours), and summer enrichment programs. There’s also a free newsletter.

Campus Compare
www.campuscompare.com
CampusCompare is a free, comprehensive online resource for college-bound students searching for the school that is right for them. CampusCompare offers data on a range of topics including academics, campus life, athletics, college trends, financial aid, scholarships and more, for more than 3,000 colleges and universities.

College Grazing
www.collegegrazing.com
College Grazing offers free, interactive self-discovery surveys to help you identify your college needs and desires. Based on the premise that self-awareness will lead to better college decisions, College Grazing offers immediate feedback about your college preferences, readiness, characteristics and much more.

Education Planner
www.educationplanner.org
Check out their career assessment tool for help finding a career that suits you. You’ll also find tips on completing college applications and tools to help you decide among colleges once you’ve been accepted.

Mapping Your Future
www.mapping-your-future.org
Mapping Your Future is a resource for career, college, financial aid and money management information.

My College Options
www.mycollegeoptions.org
My College Options is a free service that provides students with the opportunity to create a personal online college and career planning profile. Students can match their individual needs, talents, abilities, goals and interests with the offerings of 3,500+ accredited post-secondary institutions across the United States.

The Student Guide
www.studentaid.ed.gov
Available in English and Spanish, the Student Guide is a comprehensive resource on student financial aid from
the U.S. Department of Education.

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
www.fafsa.ed.gov
Learn all about the FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, usually the first step in seeking financial aid for higher education.

College Goal Sunday
www.collegegoalsundayusa.org
At College Goal Sunday, you can get free, on-site, professional assistance filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, talk to financial aid professionals about financial aid resources and how to apply, and get information regarding statewide student services, admission requirements and more.

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
www.nasfaa.org
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators offers a range of resources to help students, parents, and counselors navigate the college aid process.

A Brief Look at Student Financial Aid Programs
www.collegeispossible.org
The College Is Possible website offers “Paying for College,” an overview of federal grants and loans; tax benefits for college students; and other federal, state, and institutional programs.

FastWeb
www.fastweb.com
This free service from Monster.com allows users to search over 1.3 million scholarships worth more than $3 billion.

Scholarship Experts
www.scholarshipexperts.com/
ScholarshipExperts.com employs a professional staff of data researchers to maintain an up-to-date database of over 2.4 million scholarships worth more than $14.7 billion.