Not sure where to go for answers? Below are what we believe to be the most useful internet resources to check out and use throughout your college search. Websites include links for college search engines, testing information, financial aid, college essay assistance, and collegiate athletics. Click on the titles in maroon to be directed to the site. These websites and resources are here to help answer all of those who, what, where, when, why, and how questions about college.

College Sites and Search Engines

College Board: This site includes specific information about planning for college, taking the PSAT and SAT tests, finding the right college, applying for college, and finding and applying for financial aid and scholarship. This is one of our favorites!

College In Colorado: This is a public service site sponsored by the State of Colorado.  You can plan for college, track your high school classes for college admission, compare colleges you’re interested in, research careers and salaries, explore financial aid, apply online for admission, and apply online for financial aid.  You can also take a practice ACT and SAT test here and get helpful feedback.  If you will attend a public post-secondary institution in Colorado, definitely check this site out.  If you choose to visit only one website, make it this one.

Cappex.com: Get student reviews of 3,000+ colleges, discover your chances of admission at any college, and find more than $11 billion in scholarships.

College Week LIVE: CollegeWeekLive, the world's largest college fair, connects colleges with students, parents, counselors live online. Join hundreds of colleges and universities from around the world and tens of thousands of high-school students. Video chat with college students to learn what campus life is really like. And best of all, CollegeWeekLive is FREE: Sign Up Now.

Colorado Index Score: The CCHE index is used as a gauge for admissions into many of Colorado’s public colleges and universities. Use this free resources to calculate your index score based on your GPA and test scores to see how you might fit in the various schools.

Colorado Department of Higher Education: This website has specific information about Colorado colleges, admissions and requirements. A great resources for state school information.

Common Application: The Common Application is a not-for-profit organization that serves students and member institutions by providing an admission application– online and in print–that students may submit to any of their 400+ members.

My College Road: A planning tool that includes personal assessment, career information, college search tools, major information and search, and articles about colleges and careers.

My Majors: MyMajors.com provides useful advice for students on finding a college major based on their interests.

Princeton Review: Sponsored by The Princeton Review, this site has wide-ranging college prep, application, and financial aid advice including online applications, college search engine, and ACT/SAT test prep.

You University TV: This site links students to virtual tours, interactive campus maps, campus videos, and campus pictures of hundreds of U.S. colleges and universities.  Provides general information about national colleges and universities.

Accredited Colleges: Not all college degrees are the same!  Some carry more weight in the work world, depending upon the accreditation status of the college.  Check out some behind-the-scenes details about the schools you are researching.  Let the buyer beware!

College Test Prep Information

EXPLORE Test: The EXPLORE test, which all FCA HS 9^th graders will take while enrolled at FCA, helps students explore a broad range of options for their future. EXPLORE prepares students not only for their high school coursework, but also for their post-high school choices as well.

PLAN Test: The PLAN test, which all FCA HS 10^th graders will take while enrolled at FCA, helps students build a solid foundation for future academic and career success. It also helps students measure their current academic development, explore career/training options, and make plans for the remaining years of high school and post-graduation years.

PSAT/NMSQT Test: The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which all FCA HS 11^th graders will take while enrolled at FCA, is a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT.  The PSAT/NMSQT is also used to determine which students qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Competition. Students who make the first round are notified early in the senior year. To be selected as a National Merit Semi-Finalist, students need to average about a 71 (equivalent to a 710 SAT) on each section of the PSAT.

ACT Test: The ACT test is a required test for all FCA HS students to graduate. They must personally sign-up for the test online. The ACT test assesses high school students' general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work. The multiple-choice tests cover four skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science.

ACT Online Prep: Faith Christian Academy HS has purchased a site license for ACT Online Prep. That means that if you would like to start preparing for the ACT test which you are required to take prior to graduation, this would be an excellent place to start! Accounts have been set up for each FCA HS student in grades 9-12. This is one of the best ways to prepare for your ACT test and it's free to all FCA HS students! The test begins by taking a diagnostic test or by entering scores from previous Explore/Plan/ACT tests. This will provide you with a personalized review based on your strengths and weaknesses. To login and begin taking the practice exams, simply go to www.actonlineprep.com and login using your personalized username and password.

SAT Test: The SAT test is not a a required test for FCA HS students. However, many students like taking this additional college entrance test to boost transcript scores, as its structure and format are different than the ACT test.

ACT & SAT Test Prep: Some of our students are facing the upcoming ACT and SAT exams soon. Now is the time to prepare! Faith Christian Academy now offers in-school ACT and SAT Prep Classes taught by CollegeDrive Test Prep. To register or for more information, visit CollegeDrive online or call 303.721.8881 and choose the Wheat Ridge location to speak with someone who can help you.

Princeton Review Test Prep: If you're looking for different types of test prep, make sure to check out the Princeton Review's options. They offer test prep based on your learning style: online courses, classroom, private tutoring, self-led, small group tutoring, and more!

Financial Aid & Scholarship

College Affordability: This site reports on the highest (top 5%) and lowest (bottom 10%) academic year charges for each college. Tuition reports include tuition and required fees. Net price is cost of attendance minus grant and scholarship aid. Data are reported by institutions and are for full-time beginning students.

College Invest: This not-for-profit organization is a division of the Colorado Department of High er Education. Their main goal is to help students get an education beyond high school. They focus on providing expert information, simple planning tools, scholarships, savings plans, and low-cost student and parent loans, all to take your education dollars as far as they can go.

College In Colorado: This is a public service site sponsored by the State of Colorado.  You can plan for college, track your high school classes for college admission, compare colleges you’re interested in, research careers and salaries, explore financial aid, apply online for admission, and apply online for financial aid.

FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is the application that most colleges accept as the only required financial aid application needed for their college. It can be filled out annually by current and anticipating college students in the United States to determine their eligibility for federal student financial aid.

FAFSA PIN: The FAFSA PIN is a 4-digit number that is used in combination with your Social Security Number, name, and date of birth to identify you as someone who has the right to access your own personal information on Federal Student Aid Web sites, such as FAFSA on the Web. You will need to request this PIN prior to filing your FAFSA online is you wish to sign the FAFSA online.

FastWeb: This site is one of the best places to search for scholarships with programs for free scholarship-matching services. This site will assist you greatly in finding financial aid and money to help pay for college.

FinAid: “The Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid” provides information about loans, scholarships, and military aid as well as financial aid tools and calculators.

Merit Aid: This site has some features that make it especially helpful in comparing the amount of merit aid available for various colleges. This is much easier than going to multiple college websites to determine how much merit based aid you/your child will be eligible for at a variety of colleges.

Sallie Mae’s Online Scholarship Service: Sallie Mae helps students find unique scholarships that may be offered by different organizations, including federal and state governments and private sources, such as: Employers, Individuals, Companies, High schools and colleges, Religious groups, and Professional associations

Student Financial Assistance Programs: Here you will find one of the largest sources of student aid in America, providing over $60 billion a year in grants, loans, and work-study assistance.  At this site, students can find help for every state regarding the financial aid process.  It includes quick links to FAFSA Online, the Student Guide, and School codes.

Scholarships.com: A free site where students can find colleges and colleges can find them in addition to discovering scholarships.

College Essay Assistance

Admissions Essays: Admissions Essays has helped thousands of student applicants produce memorable, striking, and effective personal statements and admission essays to help them get into their schools of choice.

Essay Edge: Essay Edge is committed to providing the best and most ethical service to applicants to college and graduate programs. They provide the expertise and confidence to help you make your admissions essay the best it can be.

The Five Paragraph Essay: Check out this website for great resources, guidance, and extra help on perfecting the five paragraph essay. Mastering this basic essay form is the first step to success in a student's college application and academic career.

Collegiate Athletics

National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA): The NAIA is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States.

NAIA Eligibility Center: At this site you’ll find the tools and information needed to begin your college athletic experience in the NAIA.

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA): The NCAA is a voluntary organization through which the nation's colleges and universities govern their athletics programs. It is comprised of institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals committed to the best interests, education and athletics participation of student-athletes.

NCAA Eligibility Center: At this site you’ll find the tools and information needed to begin your college athletic experience in the NCAA.