The Ultimate Virtual College Admissions Library – 2020 Edition

Peabody Library, Baltimore, Maryland

The world of college admissions is constantly changing; therefore, it’s important to keep the best college admissions recourses close at hand if you are to navigate the admissions process with aplomb. Luckily, we’ve done the heavy lifting for you. We’ve assembled a virtual library of sorts filled with the resources we highly recommend for novices and old hands alike if the goal is to aggressively approach all things undergraduate admissions during the 2020-2021 admissions cycle. Research away!

Admissions Statistics

Early Decision vs. Regular Decision Acceptance Rates (Created by Jennie Kent and Jeff Levy)

Standardized Testing

ConvertYourScore.org – Our SAT-ACT conversion tool, which features important information about the SAT and ACT and the key ways in which the SAT and ACT differ, is the Internet’s most popular conversion tool and information site
ACTStudent.org – Sign up for the ACT, see your scores, and send your scores to colleges and universities
Free Practice ACT (Inclusive of Answer Sheet) – Take a timed practice test, score yourself, and learn from your mistakes
Best ACT Preparation Book: Real Act Prep Guide – Insider test-taking tips and strategy, five previously administered, full-length ACT tests written by the actual test maker, and insight from the makers of the ACT
CollegeBoard.org – Sign up for the SAT and/or SAT Subject Tests, see your scores, and send your scores to colleges and universities
Free Practice SAT and Answer Sheet – Take a timed practice test, score yourself, and learn from your mistakes
Best SAT Preparation Book: The Official SAT Study Guide (2018 Edition) – Published by the makers of the test and includes ten official SAT practice tests
Best Comprehensive SAT Subject Test Preparation Book: The Official Study Guide for ALL SAT Subject Tests, 2nd Edition – The only source of actual, previously administered tests across all 20 SAT Subject Tests
Best SAT Subject Test Prep Book for Math 1 and Math 2: The Official SAT Subject Tests in Mathematics Levels 1 & 2 Study Guide – In addition to two full-length, previously administered practice tests for each exam level, this book also contains complete solutions, answer explanations, and test-taking strategies
Best SAT Subject Test Prep Book for U.S. History and World History: The Official SAT Subject Tests in U.S. & World History Study Guide (Official Sat Subject Tests in U.S. History and World History) – Official questions and answer explanations for these exams and two full-length, previously administered practice tests in each subject
SAT Subject Test Requirements/Recommendations by College – a regularly updated list is included on ConvertYourScore.org
PSAT Practice Questions
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) – a standardized test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers wishing to enroll in U.S. universities

Short Courses

Build an Extraordinary Extracurricular Résumé – Whether you are an athlete, artist, actor, or all of the above, you need to put together an extracurricular résumé for your college application that will highlight all of your accomplishments if you are to have the best shot of earning admission to all the colleges and universities on your list. Let college admissions expert Craig Meister help you determine the right words and develop the best layout in order to differentiate your extracurricular résumé from the competition in this wonderful short course. Remember, it’s no longer about simply being a college applicant worthy of admission; it’s also about communicating that you are a college applicant worthy of admission. A remarkable résumé helps you do just that!
The 3 Biggest Lies College Admissions Officers Tell – Call it false advertising or simply denial, but whatever you call it, don’t call it the truth. College admissions officers are often well-meaning and earnest individuals, but even college admissions officers can’t help but lie when it suits their purposes. In this quick three-part course you’ll learn about the three biggest lies college admissions officers tell, which will allow you to be a savvier high school student, college applicant, and higher education consumer.

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Domestic Undergraduate Need-Based Aid and Merit Aid Stats (Created by Jennie Kent and Jeff Levy)
Financial Aid for Nonresident Alien Undergraduates Stats (Created by Jennie Kent and Jeff Levy)
SavingForCollege.com – Unbiased information on college savings with articles, calculators, 529 plan rankings, financial aid, scholarships and other ways to save and pay for college
The College Solution: A Guide for Everyone Looking for the Right School at the Right Price (2nd Edition) – This bestseller has been completely updated to provide you with the answers that you need to find wonderful colleges and universities at less-than-their-retail-price-tags
FAFSA on the Web – Federal student aid application
FAFSA on the Web Worksheet – Helps families collect and organize financial information needed for FAFSA on the Web; while The FAFSA on the Web Worksheet is not the financial aid application itself, it is a useful guide to help you complete FAFSA on the Web
CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE – Financial aid application used by many private colleges (in addition to FAFSA) in order to get a more detailed view of the finances of a student and family
Introductory CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE Presentation
Scholarship Search – Find scholarships, other financial aid and internships from more than 2200 programs, totaling nearly $6 billion
FastWeb.com – Scholarship, financial aid, and student loan search engine
The Ultimate Scholarship Book 2021: Billions of Dollars in Scholarships, Grants and Prizes 13th Edition
Scholarships, Grants & Prizes 2021 (Peterson’s Scholarships, Grants & Prizes) 25th Edition

Most Popular Undergraduate Applications

The Common Application – Has over 800 four-year college and university members
The Coalition – Has over 100 four-year college and university members
Universal College Application – Has roughly 20 four-year college and university members
University of California Application – Application for all nine UC campuses
UCAS (Undergraduate Courses At University And College) – Central organization through which applications are processed for entry into the world of UK higher education

Educational Consultants

CollegeMeister, serves clients worldwide; founded by Admissions.Blog publisher Craig Meister
College Explorations LLC, based in Fairfax County, Virginia; founded by Nancy Griesemer
SJC College Counseling, LLC, based in Fairfax County, Virginia; founded by Sandy Clingman
Big J Educational Consulting, based in various locales; founded by Jennie Kent and Jeff Levy
Madenberg College Consulting, based in Lake Success, New York; founded by Jill Madenberg

Insightful College & University Review Books and Selection Guides

Fiske Guide to Colleges 2021 – Delivers an insider’s look at the academic climates and the social and extracurricular scenes at the “best and most interesting” schools in the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, and Ireland.

Choosing the Right College 2014-15: The Inside Scoop on Elite Schools and Outstanding Lesser-Known Institutions – Extremely in-depth, independently researched college guide that uses on-campus sources to turn up the best – and worst – aspects of nearly 150 schools (It’s a shame that they don’t make new editions of this great book!)