Below is a list of all college forms students may need to fill out and submit to their guidance counselor at least a month before their first college deadline.

Perhaps the most anticipated aspect of post secondary planning at SLAS is the construction of the college list.  Counselors work closely with students and their families to develop a list of post secondary institutions and options.  The process is student centered, guided by the individual through their high school coursework, elective course offerings, extra-curricular activities, and athletic endeavors.

• College Results

• College Navigator

• Jay Mathews’ Suggested List of 100 Colleges You Should Consider – Jay Matthews is a columnist for the Washington Post and author of Harvard Schmarvard.
• Colleges That Change Lives
• Colleges for Students with Learning Disabilities – List provided by College Express
• SAT/ACT Optional Colleges – A list of over 800 4-year colleges and universities that do not require SATs or ACTs for admission

Below is a list of college related resources that may be helpful during the college selection and application processes.

• Standardized Tests
• Types of Admission: Information regarding the different types of admissions.
• The Application: There are two commonly used college applications; the admission application provided by the college and the Common Application, which is a general application accepted by more than 450 colleges nationwide.  Please contact the college admissions office directly to see which application they prefer.
• The Essay

Useful Links

• Common App – College admission application that may be used for admission to over 450 colleges nationwide

• PSAT Quickstart – Start page for students after they have received their PSAT scores
• College Board – Provider of PSAT, SAT I (college entrance exam), SAT II (supplemental college entrance subject exam), and AP exams
• ACT – College entrance exam
• TOEFL – English language proficiency exam, sometimes required for college admissions for non-native speakers.  Please contact your college admissions office directly to see if the exam is necessary in your case.
• NMSQT – National Merit Scholarship Corporation

• Peterson’s Guide – College guide

Suggested Reading for Students and Parents

1. “The Choice” – A section of the New York Times dedicated to college admissions and financial aid
2. The Chronicle of Higher Education
3. Binge: Campus Life in an Age of Disconnection and Excess, by Barrett Seaman discusses life outside of the classroom and “what your college student won’t tell you.”
4. The Black-White Test Score Gap, edited by Christopher Jencks and Meredith Philips.
5. The Blessings of a B Minus, by Wendy Mogel
6. The Case for Affirmative Action, by Jesse Jackson and Bob Laird.
7. Choosing Students: Higher Education Admissions Tools for the 21st Century, by Wayne J. Camara and Ernest W. Kimmel (Editors). Vital research on college admission today and tomorrow.
8. The Chosen: The Hidden History of Admission and Exclusion at Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, by Jerome Karabel.
9. College of the Overwhelmed, by Dr. Richard Kadison, M.D. and Theresa Foy DiGeronimo discusses the campus mental health crisis and what to do about it.
10. Colleges That Change Lives, by Loren Pope.
11. Crafting a Class: College Admissions and Financial Aid, Elizabeth A. Duffy and Idana Goldberg, Princeton University Press, 1998. This is historical research which puts a good perspective on the influence of financial aid on admissions and includes a good cross section of institutions and how they dealt with the impact of aid on enrollment.
12. Crossing the Finish Line, by William Bowen, Matthew Chingos, and Michael McPherson. A comprehensive analysis of the problem of college students’ failure to complete their baccalaureate degrees.
13. The Game of Life: College Sports and Educational Values, written by former Princeton University president William Bowen and co-author James Shulman. This study covers not only the big time Division I schools but also delves into the growing impact of athletics in small liberal arts colleges.
14. The Gatekeepers: Inside the Admissions Process of a Premier College, by Jacques Steinberg.
15. A Hope in the Unseen: An American Odyssey from the Inner City to the Ivy League, by Ron Suskind.
16. How Much Debt is Too Much Debt? by Dr. Sandra Baum. (F. Duane Quinn). Download PDF from the College Board.
17. Letting Go: A Parents’ Guide to Understanding the College Years, by Karen Coburn and Madge Lawrence Tregger.
18. Millenials Go To College, by Neil Howe and William Strauss. This is a quick read and follow-up to Millenials Rising. It gives interesting insight into what the traditional 18–22 year-old is thinking when choosing a college.
19. The Price of Admission, by Daniel Golden.
20. Questions and Admissions, Jean H. Fetter, Stanford University Press, Stanford, CA, 1995. The book is a thoughtful reflection on Jean Fetter’s years in admissions at Stanford. She addresses tough questions on admissions with good humor and style.
21. The Shape of the River: Long-term Consequences of Considering Race in College and University Admissions, Derek Bok and William Bowen.
22. The Sport of Learning, by Vince Fudzie, Andre Hayes, and the Boyz. A comprehensive survival guide for African-American Student-Athletes.
23. The State of College of College Admission 2010, by Melissa Clinedinst and David Hawkins. National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC).
24. The Student Guide, 2011-2012, U.S. Department of Education; Student Financial Assistance Programs. This is one of the few government documents which is readable and understandable. It is the basic starting point for a novice interested in Financial Aid. Download link.
25. “Why a Diverse Student Body is so Important,” Neil Rudenstine. The Chronicle of Higher Education, April 19, 1996. Ted thinks this is a strong piece and recommends that you read it before attending the Institute.  Read online at DiversityWeb.