Financial Aid/Funding Source Materials
College and University Funding Sources: This link will provide access to a guide entitled Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Student Financial Aid published by the U.S. Department of Education. The guide (in PDF formatting) includes detailed information about FAFSA and other important components of the financial aid process.
FAFSA Forms and Information: This link will provide access to all related FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) related materials. You will be able to register for FAFSA, create your individualized username and password, as well as make changes as needed all on this site.
MEFA Website Link: MEFA (Massachusetts Educational Financial Authority) provides information about affordable college loans. According to MEFA, they are one of the only sources of low-cost fixed interest rate loans.
Massachusetts Department of Higher Education/Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA): OSFA's mission "is to promote access to higher education" for residents of the state of Massachusetts. It covers questions such as how and when to apply for financial aid, what types of aid are available, etc.
Fastweb: Provides useful information about scholarships, including what they refer to as a "Massive Scholarship Database".
SallieMae: Covers information regarding school loans, scholarship searches, and items such as loan counseling, responsible borrowing, and repaying student loans.
The College Search Process/Useful Tools
The Common Application: More and more colleges and university systems are utilizing the "Common App" to simplify the application process. This site answers questions about the process, and includes a Common App Online Demo for Students. It allows an individual to create a username and password. The site also contains a capable college and university search engine. The site is updated periodically.
College Board College Search: Provided free of charge from the College Board, the CB's College Search engine allows the user a login and password in order to store information for future usage. A tremendously useful source!
Colleges That Change Lives: With the motto Changing Lives, One Student At a Time, the CTCL highlights roughly forty schools which support student-centered learning and a lifelong love of learning.
The College Board: Easy access to the College Board's website. Contains information about the SAT, SAT subject examinations, and Advanced Placement (AP) course information and materials.
Embark: Provided free of charge, this is another college search engine that some might find helpful.
U.S. News and World Report: Constantly in the process of ranking college and university quality on many different scales. Also a good source for college and university searches, including sections entitled Great Schools at Great Prices, A+ Schools for B Students, and Up-and-Coming Schools such as Northeastern University, UVM, Pepperdine University, and George Mason University.
Peterson Guide To College and University Information: Peterson's is a bit less pretentious than U.S. News, however, it contains much of the same types of search engines, etc. Their sections include Colleges and Universities: Choosing the Right Fit and Choosing College Programs That Suit You.
The Princeton Review: Provides excellent insight into PSAT, SAT, ACT, and AP testing as well as search engines for college/university selections. Their categories include Best 376 Colleges, Best Value Colleges, and Best Regional Colleges, etc.
