Resources
Free tools, official data, and expert guides to support every step of your college application journey.
Deadlines vary by school and by year — always confirm on the official site.
Application Platforms
Where you actually submit your applications.
- Common App
Used by 1,000+ colleges. The standard application for most US schools.
- Coalition App
Alternative to Common App, accepted by ~150 schools including many top universities.
- UC Application
Required for all University of California campuses. Opens Aug 1; the filing window is Oct 1 – Dec 2.
Official Data Sources
Primary sources for school statistics — the same data SchoolScout uses.
- College Scorecard
The US Department of Education's official school database — costs, outcomes, graduation rates.
- IPEDS Data Center
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Raw institutional data for every accredited school.
- Common Data Sets
Standardized data each school publishes yearly. Search "[school name] Common Data Set" for the PDF.
Financial Aid
How to fund your education — start here before applications close.
- FAFSA — studentaid.gov
Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Required for all federal aid and most state aid. Opens Oct 1 each year; some state and school aid deadlines fall much earlier, so check both.
- CSS Profile
Required by ~400 private colleges for institutional aid. Apply separately from FAFSA.
- Fastweb
Free scholarship matching database. Over 1.5 million scholarships.
- Scholarships.com
Large searchable scholarship database with filters for major, state, and background.
- College Board Scholarship Search
Search 2,200+ scholarships, internships, and financial aid programs.
Test Prep
Free and low-cost prep for SAT and ACT.
- Khan Academy SAT Prep
Free, personalized SAT prep in partnership with College Board. The most effective free resource available.
- ACT Official Prep
Official ACT practice tests and prep materials directly from the test maker.
- College Board Test Prep
Official SAT practice materials, including full-length practice tests.
Research & Comparison
Go deeper on specific schools — student reviews, admissions data, and forums.
- Niche
Student-written reviews of colleges, dorms, professors, and campus life. Useful for culture fit.
- College Confidential
Forums where students share admissions results, chance-me threads, and financial aid experiences.
- PrepScholar Blog
Data-driven guides on admissions rates, GPA/test score ranges, and application strategy.
- US News College Rankings
Well-known rankings. Useful as one data point, but don't over-index on rank alone.
Planning & Timelines
Stay on top of deadlines and build your application calendar.
- College Board BigFuture
College planning tools, deadline tracker, and cost estimator from College Board.
- National Association for College Admission Counseling
NACAC — professional body for college counselors. Publishes the State of College Admission report annually.
- Common App Deadline Finder
Search deadlines for Early Decision, Early Action, and Regular Decision across all Common App schools.