Visit state and local resources

Help is available in your state!

Your state has free programs and resources to help you plan and pay for college: 

1. Connect with a mentor or tutor
2. Visit a college information center to get help with the FAFSA and college applications
3. Attend a financial aid/college information event
4. Learn about college entrance exams
5. Find out about other resources in your state

School-based mentor and tutor programs

Mentor and Tutor Programs
Schools, guaranty agencies and community organizations offer special programs to help students prepare for the academic challenges of college. These programs include TRIO, GEAR UP, I Have A Dream Program, ProjectGRAD and others. Below are some resources for locating the programs in your state:

TRIO Programs
The TRIO programs help low-income Americans enter college, graduate, and move on to participate more fully in America's economic and social life. TRIO programs help students overcome class, social and cultural barriers to higher education.

Below is a link to all the Upward Bound, Talent Search and Educational Opportunity Centers in the state.

www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/trio/index.html

GEAR UP Partnerships
GEAR UP is a federal program designed to enable more young Americans to succeed in middle and secondary school, to study hard, take the right courses for college and become competitive for admission to colleges and universities. GEAR UP enables states and communities to strengthen their schools and provide better educational opportunities for low-income students. Below is a link to all of the GEAR UP Program sites:

www.ed.gov/programs/gearup/awards.html

I Have A Dream Foundation
The "I Have a Dream"® Program helps children from low-income areas reach their education and career goals by providing a long-term program of mentoring, tutoring, and enrichment with an assured opportunity for higher education. The site includes a state map of all the existing programs:

www.ihaveadreamfoundation.org/html/affiliate_directory.htm

Project Grad
Project Grad works to ensure a quality public school education for all at-risk children in economically disadvantaged communities so that high school graduation rates increase and graduates are prepared to enter and be successful in college.

The following states have Grad Sites: Alaska; California; Georgia; New Jersey; New York; Ohio; Tennessee; Texas

The following states are developing Grad Sites: Louisiana; Mississippi; Pennsylvania; West Virginia

www.projectgrad.org

Summer Bridge Programs
Summer Bridge Programs help students make a smooth transition from high school to college both academically and socially. The type of program and length vary from campus to campus, but they often are geared toward first generation, low-income and minority students.

Google Search: Summer Bridge Program and State

Breakthrough Collaborative
The Breakthrough Collaborative has created a “Students Teaching Students” model that partners middle-school students with college and high school students who serve as teachers, role models and mentors, providing real-life examples that it’s ‘cool to be smart.’.

For information on the regional locations, visit:

www.breakthroughcollaborative.org/aboutus/locations.html

College Resource Centers in the state
Many states have College Resource Centers that provide a place for students and families to plan for a career, apply to college, and learn about ways to pay for college. Staff members provide one-on-one counseling at the Center and often visit school and community sites to provide training on filling out college applications and the FAFSA form.

Financial aid/college information events

College Goal Sunday:
Applying for financial aid for education beyond high school can be confusing, especially with the paperwork that is required. College Goal Sunday is a free program that helps families complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the form that is required to apply for federal financial assistance for higher education opportunities.  Students attending a College Goal Sunday event will:

1. Receive free on-site professional assistance filling out the FAFSA form.
2. Talk to a financial aid professional about financial aid resources and how to apply.
3. Receive information regarding state-wide student services, admission requirements, and more.

To find out more information on College Goal Sunday including locations and what students and parents should bring to the event, visit www.collegegoalsundayusa.org.

Information on college entrance exams

ACT
The ACT is America's most widely accepted college entrance exam. It assesses high school students' general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work.  The ACT includes 215 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes to complete with breaks or just over four hours if you are taking the Writing Test.

1. The multiple-choice tests cover four skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science.
2. The Writing Test, which is optional, measures skills in planning and writing a short essay.

For information including test dates, access the ACT Web site at www.act.org.

SAT
Many colleges require the SAT for admissions or to award scholarships. Students earn a Critical Reading, Math, and Writing score.  Each section is scored on a 200- to 800-point scale. The national average score per section is 500. The SAT includes 160 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes to complete.

1. The Critical Reading section includes sentence completion and reading comprehension.  Calculator use is allowed, but not required.
2. The Writing section includes grammar, usage, and word choice.

For more information including test dates, access The Princeton Review Web site at www.princetonreview.com.

The Test for English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
The TOEFL is a test for non-native English speakers to evaluate their ability to read, write, speak, and listen to English.  The test is divided into four sections that integrate all four of these English language skills:

1. Reading: 60 minutes, 3 passages, 12-14 questions per passage
2. Listening: Up to 60 minutes, up to 72 questions
3. Speaking: 6 tasks with 15-30 seconds to prepare and 45-60 seconds to speak
4. Writing: 50 minutes, 2 writing tasks

For more information including test dates, access The Princeton Review Web site at www.princetonreview.com.

Additional resources in your state

Detailed information about the local college access programs in your state is available through the National College Access Program Directory. The Directory is a resource provided by the National College Access Network and Pathways to College Network .