9 Resources Every College Counselor Should Use

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As a high school counselor, you’re a jack-of-all-trades.

That’s pretty much your job description. When it comes to advice about college, students come to you with questions about what it feels like to be enrolled, as well as how to get there, what to do while there, and how to navigate life after it. With colleges constantly changing, you want to have current information.

The good news is you don’t actually need to know everything. You just need to know where to find everything. Start with these nine resources recommended by counselors around the country.

1. American School Counselor Association (ASCA)

While ASCA is for school counselors of all grade levels, the organization offers valuable information for high school counselors preparing students for college. Its free webinars cover a wide range of topics, including individual career conversations with students and parents, and it offers a college admissions specialist training course online.

2. College Lists Wiki

Curated by college counselors, this wiki houses thousands of lists that break down schools in hyper-specific ways—think graphic design programs that don’t require a portfolio or the best prep for veterinary school.

3. Fiske Interactive

The online extension of the Fiske Guide to Colleges, which is compiled and written by former New York Times education editor Edward Fiske, allows users to take a deep dive into the over 300 American colleges that Fiske deems the best and most interesting each year. You can also purchase a 12-month subscription to the online portal, which offers in-depth profiles of Fiske’s picks, deadline trackers and tools to help students discover the right schools for them.

4. My College Plan

This tool can help students easily compare college costs, explore different majors, and check out future earnings for potential careers. This information helps them calculate their college ROI so they can choose a college that best fits their needs.

5. Naviance by PowerSchool

This software helps students narrow down college choices as well as career options and create a personalized plan to make their goals a reality. If your school doesn’t have it, you can schedule a demo to learn more about how it works.

6. Common App

Besides being a place for students to apply to more than 700 colleges, the Common App offers valuable information for students and counselors on its Plan for College and Explore Colleges pages.

7. Colleges That Change Lives

This is focused on schools that can create meaningful change, particularly for teens who weren’t straight–A students in high school. It’s organized by geographic region and includes in-depth interviews and insider information about the admissions process. The most recent print edition is from 2012, but you can find recently updated info online.

8. Niche

Consult this regularly updated, data-driven site that ranks schools in myriad ways—including the best online schools, the best food, and the best no-application-fee colleges—as well as by state, major, admissions, campus, student life, and academics.

9. National Association for College Admissions Counseling

Don’t forget to use your NACAC membership for everything it’s worth (and if you’re not a member, consider signing up). The 86-year-old organization offers professional development, continuing education and networking opportunities, and its Knowledge Center houses concrete advice and up-to-date insights you can use daily.