What's next? Life after high school Information and ideas about planning for your future.
Financial Aid
Ayuda financiera para asistir la universidad o colegio: Información en español que trata de como pagar por universidad.
Immigrants Rising: Immigrants Rising’s List of Undergraduate Scholarships contains scholarships for undergraduate studies that don’t require proof of citizenship or legal permanent residency.
FAFSA: Free Application for Student Aid: Apply for Pell Grants, Stafford Loans, Perkins Loans, and work-study, among other programs.
FastWeb: Use their college directory, read articles about preparing for college, or register for free for customized scholarship information.
FinAid: the Financial Aid Information Page: "A free, comprehensive, independent, and objective guide to student financial aid."
Office of Student Access and Completion: Learn about and apply for grants and scholarships available to Oregon students.
Pride Foundation Scholarships: Every year, Pride Foundation awards scholarships to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and allied student leaders in the Northwest.
Professions That Pay Tuition: "Explore some lesser known ways to pay college tuition, including tuition reimbursement and paid training programs."
Apply for Financial Aid: From the U.S. Department of Education: provides an overview of the process of applying for federal student aid. Request federal grants, work-study, and loans using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.
Admissions
ACT Assessment: FAQs, sample questions and strategies, and how to register.
Coalition for College Access: Offers free college planning resources. Interested students and families can start this process as early as 9th grade.
Common Black Application: Allows students to apply to multiple Historically Black Colleges and Universities around the country for a single fee.
College Board Online: Register online, send your scores to schools.
Common Application Online: Apply simultaneously for colleges that use the common application form. You must register to use the site.
Learning Express Library: Take practice tests including the GED, civil service, cosmetology, real estate, several Advanced Placement exams, the ACT, the SAT, and many others.
Prepare for the GED at the library: Learn about testing requirements. Access library resources, practice tests and websites for study in the five subject areas.
QuestBridge: Especially for low income, first generation college students. You can submit an application, preferences, and if you become a finalist, you can be a “match” to one of their partner colleges. If you match, you are guaranteed a full-ride scholarship.
Teen Ink: College Essays: Real college essays written by real teens.
Guides
College Affordability Guide: Thorough guide to affordable colleges and universities, plus advice on financial aid.
College Navigator: "Search by programs offered, degrees offered, institution type, price, selectivity, distance from home, school size, institutional mission (historically black colleges and universities, single-sex), extended learning opportunities for adults (weekend and evening degree programs), and intercollegiate athletics programs offered."
Planning Your High School Experience includes grade-level guidance about next steps for 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th graders. Focus is on Portland Public Schools, but a lot of information is useful to students outside PPS as well.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Black college and university homepages.
The Undocumented Student's Guide to College: Resources to help undocumented students applying to and attending college, from advocacy groups, educational materials, and legal counsel to scholarship opportunities, on-campus support services, and readily-accessible online college programs.
Worldwide Directory of Residential Colleges: Don't know what a residential college is or why you'd want to attend one? This is where to find out.
Study Abroad
CIEE: Council on International Educational Exchange: Study, work, and volunteer abroad. Choose from 60 study abroad programs in 30 host countries.
Erudera College News: "helping current and prospective international students find the most relatable and reliable news about studying abroad."
IES Abroad: IES, International Education of Students, coordinates study abroad programs, internships and other international education offerings.
Transitions Abroad: Study, travel, work, and live abroad.