Career/College | Iowa School Counselors Association

Career/College

National Resources on CCR

Better Make Room - bettermakeroom.org
Better Make Room supports the former First Lady's Reach Higher Initiative, helping students forge a path to their future.
College Opportunity Day of Action – Morning Session (President Obama speaks)
College Opportunity Day of Action – Afternoon Session (First Lady & Vice President speak)

College Board - Counselor Guides to Career and College Readiness

Career Guidance Resources

Future Ready Iowa - www.futurereadyiowa.gov
ICR Career/Pathways site - https://educate.iowa.gov/higher-ed/iowa-career-pathways
Registered Apprenticeships - earnandlearniowa.gov
Trades - www.iowaskilledtrades.com
www.buildiowa.org
www.elevateiowa.com
O*NET Online www.onetonline.org
Career One Stop - www.careeronestop.org
Occupational Outlook Handbook - https://www.bls.gov/ooh/

College Planning Resources

General Resources

ICAN - www.icansucceed.org
ICAN works with school counselors to provide school-based presentations for students and parents on transitioning to high school, career and college planning, and how to pay for college. ICAN leads the FAFSA Ready Iowa Initiative which provides free FAFSA assistance to students. ICAN's website houses resource materials, guides, E-Alerts and tips (Tip of the Week, Senior E-Alerts, Counselor Alerts), and video resources to help students and families make informed decisions. ICAN also organizes the two largest career and college fairs in the state - Golden Circle in Des Moines and the NEW ICR Futures in Cedar Rapids.
Iowa College Aid - www.iowacollegeaid.gov
Iowa College Aid is the state of Iowa agency that oversees state grants and scholarships, and promotes the three-steps to college program through online materials and tips.
College Raptor - www.collegeraptor.com
College comparison tools based on personal profile - find the right fit academically, socially, and financially.
College Board - www.collegeboard.com (student resources)
Counselor resources - https://professionals.collegeboard.org/guidance/counseling/counselor-resources
In addition to administering the SAT, CollegeBoard provides resources on AP, college planning, scholarships, and counselor CCR programming.
Niche - www.niche.com
Discover the schools, companies, and neighborhoods that are right for you.
Iowa Association of College Admission Counseling (Iowa ACAC) - https://www.iowaacac.org/
Iowa ACAC assists students, parents, and secondary school counselors in the college admissions process through many popular programs.
National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC) - https://www.nacacnet.org/
Providing knowledge, networking, and ethical standards for college admission professionals.
College Athletics - NCAA - www.ncaaeligibilitycenter.org
Students wishing to play sports in college should review eligibility requirement early in their planning process.

ACT/SAT Test Prep

Military Colleges & Academies - https://www.usa.gov/military-colleges

Army - www.army.mil
Air Force - www.airforce.com
Coast Guard - www.uscg.mil
Marines - www.marines.com
Navy - www.navy.com

Iowa Colleges & Universities

Applications

Common App - www.commonapp.com
Coalition Application - http://coalitionforcollegeaccess.org/

Financial Aid

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) - www.fafsa.gov
FAFSA4Caster - https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa/estimate
FAFSA Completion Assistance
ICAN - (877) 272-4692 questions or schedule a FAFSA appointments
FAFSA Ready Iowa - FAFSA Assistance - www.icansucceed.org/fafsareadyia
CSS Profile - https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org
The CSS Profile is an additional financial aid application required by some colleges and universities. It goes deeper into a family's financial information that the FAFSA form.
Iowa College Aid - www.iowacollegeaid.gov
Iowa College Aid oversees state grants and scholarships and houses the state scholarship application on its website.
Scholarships