Helpful Education Website Locations by Topic/Checklist
Filling Out the FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
 Access the Application and Other Helpful Tools: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov
 What Information Do I Need to Fill Out the FAFSA? http://studentaid.ed.gov/sites/default/files/info-for-fafsa.pdf
 FAFSA4caster: https://fafsa.ed.gov/FAFSA/app/f4cForm?execution=e1s1
FAFSA4caster will help you understand your options for paying for college and estimate your eligibility for federal student
aid.
Scholarships
Scholarships are gifts. They don't need to be repaid. There are thousands of them, offered by schools, employers, individuals, private
companies, nonprofits, communities, religious groups, and professional and social organizations.
Find and apply for as many scholarships as you can – it’s free money for college or career school! Start researching early, and meet
deadlines, and you may be on your way to scholarship success.
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How Do I Find Scholarships?
You can learn about scholarships in several ways, including contacting the financial aid office at the school you plan to
attend and checking information in a public library or online. But be careful. Make sure scholarship information and
offers you receive are legitimate; and remember that you don't have to pay to find scholarships or other financial aid.
Check out our information on how to avoid scams at www.studentaid.ed.gov/types/scams.
Try these free sources of information about scholarships:
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The financial aid office at a college or career school
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High school or TRIO counselor
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U.S. Department of Labor’s FREE scholarship search tool
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Federal agencies
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Your state grant agency
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Your library’s reference section
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Foundations, religious or community organizations, local businesses, or civic groups
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Organizations (including professional associations) related to your field of interest
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Ethnicity-based organizations
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Your employer or your parents’ employers
Free Scholarship Search: http://www.fastweb.com
Free Scholarship Search:
http://www.careerinfonet.org/scholarshipsearch/ScholarshipCategory.asp?searchtype=category&nodeid=22
Scholarship or Scam?
http://www.csac.ca.gov/doc.asp?id=1240
Tips on scholarship information: www.scholarshare.com
Middle Class Scholarship – NEW! Starting in the 2014-15 academic year, new, returning, and transfer students to UC or CSU with a
family income of up to $150,000 may be eligible. Governor Brown signed this legislation on July 1, 2013, and program details are just
being released. Check California Student Aid for program information: http://www.csac.ca.gov
Financial Aid Information:
 Steps to Federal Financial Aid:
http://studentaid.ed.gov/sites/default/files/steps-to-aid.pdf
 FAFSA4caster: https://fafsa.ed.gov/FAFSA/app/f4cForm?execution=e1s1
FAFSA4caster will help you understand your options for paying for college and estimate your eligibility for federal student aid.
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https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college
Fund Your Future: http://www.csac.ca.gov/doc.asp?id=40
2013–14 Funding Your Education: The Guide to Federal Student Aid: http://studentaid.ed.gov/resources#funding
Myths About Financial Aid (Video): http://studentaid.ed.gov/sites/default/files/myths.wmv
Myths About Financial Aid (PDF): http://studentaid.ed.gov/sites/default/files/financial-aid-myths.pdf
Student Aid Resources Page: http://studentaid.ed.gov/resources#funding
Contains videos and publications covering a wide variety of topics.
Avoid Deceptive Student Loan Offers: http://studentaid.ed.gov/sites/default/files/avoid-deceptive-loan-offers.pdf
Cash for College Workshops: http://www.calgrants.org/index.cfm?navId=16
Financial Aid Basics – Frequently Asked Questions: https://secure.californiacolleges.edu/finance/financial-aid-faqs/default.asp
Great Resource for All Your College and Financial Aid Questions! https://secure.californiacolleges.edu
How Much Does College Cost? https://secure.californiacolleges.edu/finance/how-much-does-college
Comparing Colleges:
 College Preparation Checklist: http://studentaid.ed.gov/sites/default/files/college-prep-checklist.pdf
 Critical Questions to Consider When Choosing a College: http://studentaid.ed.gov/sites/default/files/comparing-colleges.pdf
 The College Scorecard: collegecost.ed/gov/scorecard
The College Scorecard includes essential information about a particular college’s costs, its graduation rates and the average
amount its students borrow, all in a standardized, easy-to-read format. It is designed to help you compare colleges and choose
one that is well-suited to your individual needs.
 Net Price Calculator: collegecost.ed.gov/netpricecenter.aspx
The Net Price Calculator Center provides you a tool to explore the net price of any given college – that is, the price after
subtracting the scholarships and grants you are likely to receive. Then, you can easily compare estimated net prices across the
institutions that you are considering.
 College Navigator: www.nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator
College Navigator is an interactive website that allows you to explore and compare features of different institutions, including
programs and majors, admissions considerations, campus crime statistics and more.
 Surfing tips for academic information on college websites: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/csearch/majors_careers/45101.html
 Information on California colleges and universities: www.californiacolleges.edu
Career Exploration: Who Do You Want to Be?
Great tools for assessing your interests and exploring career options. Includes career videos, occupational trends and wages, explore
work options, research employers.
• http://www.careerinfonet.org/scholarshipsearch/ScholarshipCategory.asp?searchtype=category&nodeid=22
• Career Resource Library: http://www.careerinfonet.org/crl/library.aspx
More than 6000 links to online career resources
• Skills Profiler: http://www.careerinfonet.org/skills/default.aspx?nodeid=20
Create a list of your skills and interests and match them to career options
• http://www.whodouwant2b.com/student/pathways
• http://www.myfuture.com
• http://www.going2college.org
• Career exploration: www.bls.gov/k12/
• Career exploration: www.careeronestop.org
• Career exploration: www.cacareerzone.org
• Career browsing: http://www.collegeboard.com/html/careerbrowser.html
Cal Grant Information:
 How to apply for Cal Grant: http://www.calgrants.org/index.cfm?navId=22
 Calendar of what to do each month: http://www.calgrants.org/index.cfm?navId=21
 Comparison of Cal Grants A and B – Eligibility Requirements: http://www.csac.ca.gov/news/G-30_calgrantcomparisonchart.pdf
 Important Facts About Cal Grant and When/Where To Use It:
http://www.csac.ca.gov/pubs/forms/grnt_frm/ImportantfactsaboutyourCalGrant.pdf
Why Go On A College Visit? How to Prepare:
• http://www.collegeboard.com/student/csearch/collegevisits/72.html
• 10 tips for going on a virtual tour: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/csearch/majors_careers/45103.html
• Tips for preparing for your college visit: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/csearch/collegevisits/73.html
• What to do when you get there: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/csearch/collegevisits/101.html
• Surfing tips for academic information on college websites: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/csearch/majors_careers/45101.html
General and Miscellaneous:
• Great General Website: Career Planning, Scholarships, Financial Aid: http://www.fastweb.com
 Wide range of critically important information for parents and students: www.collegeboard.com
 Free online practice tests and tips for improving SAT Test scores: www.ineedapencil.com
• Glossary of Educational Terms: https://secure.californiacolleges.edu/finance/glossary-and-program-details.asp#pagetop
 Can I Afford the Life I Want to Live? Get a “Reality Check!”: http://www.cacareerzone.org
 Literacy help: http://www.deltacollege.edu/dept/childdevctr/resources.html.
This resource page, with hyperlinks to the websites, can be found on the passport.deltacollege.edu webpage. Choose
“Resources” tab on the left column, and then open “Resource Handout.”