College Help

Practice Testing & Test Prep

ACT	Kaplan – Free ACT Prep and Half-length Practice Test
MCAS	Practice Tests through the MCAS Resource Center
PSAT	Kaplan – Free PSAT Prep and Practice Tests
SAT	CollegeBoard SAT Full-Length Practice Tests SAT Suite Practice Resources
PSAT and SAT	Khan Academy Test Prep

Start early
Make a list of options you want to explore
If you’re overwhelmed, try narrowing down your search by state, major, program, sports, activities, etc
Create a deadline calendar
Inquire about scholarship opportunities; reach out to your guidance counselor or workplace, and the financial aid departments of schools to which you are applying
Read all eligibility information and application requirements carefully
Check back for old scholarships—they may reopen
Save school essays—they may be reworked into application essays
Never pay to apply to a scholarship
Remember to follow through!

Get big-picture information about college admissions and financial aid with these resources

BigFuture (College Board)	This free resource, created by College Board, offers information on finding a college, financing one’s education, and exploring careers. Most of the website can be accessed without creating a personal account, although some tools require that users set up a login.
Collegewise	The Newton location offers counselors to help guide you to a more successful college admissions process, including essay help.
FAFSA	Even if you don’t think you’ll qualify, you should always submit the free application for Federal Student Aid. Billion of dollars are given out each year in loans, grants, and work-study funds.
Massachusetts Department of Higher Education: Office of Student Financial Assistance	Listings of state financial aid programs including grants, scholarships, tuition waivers, loans, and tuition reimbursements.
Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority	Some great tips and timelines on applying, planning, saving, and paying for college.
U.S. Department of Education	Learn more about how grants, work-study, loans, and scholarships can help fund your education
Vocations and Career Collection Database	This database provides access to journals and magazines that aid users in researching a vocation, finding an appropriate institution of learning, job-searching, and maintaining a career.

These databases compile scholarship and financial aid information so that it is searchable and easy to act on

Check out the provided links for the most up-to-date information on available funds

Name	Funds Available
Amazon Future Engineers	Up to $40,000
AmericanMuscle – Students pursuing automotive degrees AmericanTrucks – Students pursuing building trades ExtremeTerrain – Students pursuing environmental studies, ecology, land use	$2,500 each
Because College is Expensive Scholarship	$500
Blacks at Microsoft (BAM) Scholarship	Variable
Burger King Scholars Program	Variable
Chick-fil-A Community Scholars	$25,000
Courage to Grow	$1,000
Dell Scholars Program	$20,000 (as well as tech and other benefits)
Digital Responsibility Scholarships	$1,000
Doodle for Google	$10,000
Fund for Education Abroad	Up to $5,000
General Federation of Women’s Clubs	Variable
Global Perspectives Scholarship	$1,000
Government Finance Officers Association Scholarships	Variable
Leon M. Poe Scholarship – Promotes inclusion of college minority students majoring in STEM	Variable
Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA)	Variable
RehabSeekers Scholarship Contest 2026 (due Nov 30)	$1,500 / $500
SmarterCollege Scholarship	$2,000
Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship	$25,000
Too Cool to Pay for School Scholarship	$1,000
The Voyager Scholarship	Up to $50,000
Wheaton Refugee Scholarship All Wheaton scholarships	Variable