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Albany High School

Inspiring & Preparing Young Adults To Be Productive Members Of A Diverse Global Society

College Resources

College Resources

The following resources are suggestions and recommendations by parents and staff. This list is not meant to be exhaustive. Libraries, bookstores, and the Internet are great resources for finding materials that may be even more specific to your needs.

  • Students register for the SAT/ACT directly through each organization's website, NOT through the Counseling Office:

    Families of students with disabilities who are seeking accommodations on these standardized tests need to apply directly to the testing organization to receive those accommodations. Click here for helpful hints for applying for accommodations through ACT and College Board (applies to SAT Reasoning and Subject Tests as well as PSAT and Advanced Placement exams).
     

    Practice Tests

    ​​​​​​​For students wanting to explore test prep over the summer, Kaplan is offering free PSAT, SAT and ACT practice tests and workshops. Visit this link to see what is available!

  • A note of caution regarding websites: Online resources are an excellent source for college information, but be wary of “.com” sites. For example, there is a “FAFSA.com” site which states it will fill out your FAFSA form, but for a price. The federal government’s FAFSA site and other federal educational websites end in “.ed.gov ”, and California government sites end in “.ca.gov”. The information on these government sites is offered free and their publications are also free. Nonprofit organizations end in “ .org ” and are more reputable than “.com ” sites. However, there may be a charge for certain services with “.org” sites.

     

    • Best Colleges
      Information about what schools have to offer in terms of top-rated academics and student lifestyle.
    • The Best Colleges
      Get the best education possible.
    • BigFuture
      Step-by-step college planning guide from The College Board.
    • California Colleges
      Source for college planning in CA.
    • College View
      College finder, Virtual tours; how to make the most of your college experience.
    • Cyber Degrees
      Directory of colleges and universities offering cyber security degrees
    • Discover Business
      Subject guides, resources and rankings of business schools.
    • My College Options
      Extensive information about college planning, preparation, financing.
    • My Road
      College Board sponsored site. Free access for students who have taken the PSAT.
    • Universities
      Online college prep resource providing university rankings, tuition costs and in depth information.
    • Accredited Schools Online
      This tool helps simplify the process of comparing online colleges and programs.
    • Affordable Colleges Online
      Identify an online institution that meets your educational, professional and financial needs.
    • Consumer Affairs
      A guide and resource of verified consumer reviews used to make a more informed decision.
    • OnlineColleges
      For the experienced online learner, current student, or those considering attending college online.
  • Naviance Family Connection – Albany High School

    Naviance is a web-based college & career research and planning tool for AHS students and parents. Every AHS student has an account with Naviance, but you must register before you can start using its many features. On Naviance, students can search for colleges, explore careers, and take interest inventories. In addition, students can review admission data for colleges across the United States and get a better sense of whether a particular college would be a good match for them.

  • The AHS Counseling office, AHS library and Albany library have a wide variety of college guides, books and pamphlets on the college search process, admissions, financial aid and more.

    • Americorps
      Complete a term of service to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award.
    • College Affordability Guide
      Info and advice on the many options students have to reduce the cost of their degree.
    • CollegeSavings
      Clearinghouse for information among state-administered college savings programs.
    • East Bay Consortium
      Services for students to finish high school and enroll in postsecondary institutions.
    • Fastweb
      Search engine with access to information on 600,000 scholarships.
    • Ivy Ready
      Help identify areas of improvement on your college applications.
    • Pay Your Tuition
      Lower loan debt by fundraising.
    • Raise me
      Get scholarships from colleges for your achievements in high school.
    • The Impossible Dollar
      Build a financially
  • Applications

     

     

  • AHS Athletic Department's Planning Guide for the College-Bound Student Athlete (link broken)

    Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse
    P.O. Box 4044
    Iowa City, IA 52243–4044

    NCAA Eligibility and Recruitment Information

    For other questions call toll free 1–877–262–1492

  • If you are not a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident and do not currently possess a green card, visa, or other legal documentation, you are considered an undocumented immigrant.

    Being an undocumented student does not prohibit you from applying to college or receiving financial assistance. Albany High School hosts a financial aid workshop for students each year. Please listen to the bulletin or refer to the Counseling calendar for more information and visit CA Dream Act for details.

  • If you are or were in foster care between the ages of 16 and 18 as a dependent or ward of the court and have financial need, you may qualify for up to $5,000 a year for career and technical training or college. 

    Being a foster child does not prohibit you from applying to college or receiving financial assistance. Albany High School hosts a financial aid workshop for students each year. Please listen to the bulletin or refer to the Counseling calendar for more information and visit Chafee Grant information page for details.