If your child is considering a Christian college, you've already got a great resource with the magazine you now hold in your hands. But the Internet is also a goldmine of information to help you in the process. And it's free!

As you surf the following sites, be sure to look for special links or tabs that say "For Parents" or something similar.

clcollegeguideonline.com

Of course we're going to recommend our own site! You'll find more good stuff like you're reading in this special issue—articles about the college search, advice from experts and college students, tips, calendars, glossaries and much more. Plus you'll find links to many Christian colleges, where you can learn even more about individual schools.

christiancollegesearch.com

This site is powered by the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), and features 100 Christian schools. Using the "Search by Criteria" feature, you can do just that—plug in certain information you're looking for in a school, and then get a list of schools meeting that criteria. You can enter criteria like major, region, denominational affiliation and athletics.

whatsthebest-college.com

Despite the title of the site, it won't tell you the best Christian college, because the very definition varies from student to student. Instead, the site tells students, "You are the only person who can decide which Christian college is best for you." A step-by-step college guide helps you narrow down your choices. You'll also find real-life stories from students and graduates that are full of good advice and wisdom to help you in your college choice.

christiancolleges.com

You'll find some good resources on this site, including a bookstore where you can buy our own Campus Life Guide to Christian Colleges and Universities, plus other books to help you in the process. There's also a page for parents and a list of links to Christian colleges in the U.S., Canada, and around the world.

collegeview.com

While the four sites listed above are from a Christian perspective, this one is not, but it's a very comprehensive site that can help you in your search. Their "Test Prep" and "College Search" areas are especially helpful. In the "College Search," you can plug in criteria for "religious affiliation," and their database includes over 200 Christian schools. There's also a section called "Discover the Benefits of a Christian College," plus a section just for parents.

collegeboard.com

Another helpful secular site, especially the area called "My Organizer," where you can plug in your information and stay on top of upcoming deadlines, get reminders, update your checklist, manage other lists, and more. There's an online demo for "My Organizer" that walks you through the process, showing all the benefits. And there's a special section just for parents.

finaid.org

This comprehensive site is packed with more information than you'll probably need, but it's the best place to start. Learn about loans and scholarships. Use a calculator for figuring your costs and needs. Get help for filling out financial aid applications. Get your questions answered in the "Ask the Advisor" section.

fastweb.com

If you're looking for college money, this is a gold mine. Boasting a searchable database of more than 600,000 scholarships, fellowships, grants and loans, fastWEB is a free service and a great tool. You can create a personal account on the site, and fastWEB searches its database to find scholarships and other aid for which you might be eligible. And they'll send you e-mail updates when new info arrives.

fafsa.ed.gov

You can fill out the FAFSA form online, saving time and paperwork in the process. This site also answers some of your questions about the process, and enables you to check on the status of your FAFSA after you've submitted it.

nasfaa.org

You won't find any student aid at this site, but you will find a ton of good information from the experts. Most of the site is for professionals, but if you click the "Parents & Students" link, you'll find quizzes and checklists to help you in the financial aid search. There are many helpful hints throughout the site.

scholarshipcoach.com

Twenty-three-year-old Ben Kaplan garnered nearly $90,000 in scholarships, enabling him to go to Harvard at virtually no cost. He shares his secrets, and many other practical tips, on this site. Features include an "Ask the Coach" section, where you can ask your specific questions; a "Web Surfing Coach" section, a tutorial for finding scholarships on the Internet; a "Just for Parents" section; and much more.

ed.gov

This is a great place to learn about the government's take on financial aid—recent legislation, paying back loans, tax credits, and more. Click on the "Financial Aid" tab to get many of your questions answered.

collegeview.com

This comprehensive site includes a thorough "Financial Aid & Scholarships" section in which you'll find a scholarship search and such topics as "Understanding Financial Aid," "Types of Financial Aid," and "Ask the Experts," with over 100 frequently asked questions—and answers.

clcollegeguide.com

Yes, we're plugging our own site again. You'll find a wealth of good advice about life at college—academics, relationships, roommates, social life, homesickness, spiritual growth, and much more.

Flip through the issue you're now holding. This is the type of stuff you'll find on the Campus Life College Guide site. Think of it as a beefed-up electronic version of this issue.

rwuniversity.com

We were pleasantly surprised to find this gem among many other not-so-helpful sites about life at college. Real World University's creator and Web-master are both Christians, and the site is full of solid, practical advice from a Christian perspective.

The coolest thing on the site is in the "Campus Ministry" section, with a page called "Gaining Salvation," which tells the reader how to become a Christian.

Be sure to check out the "College Life Survival" section on the site, which includes such topics as "Listening to God," "Strengthening Your Faith," and "Facing and Resisting Temptation."

There are more sites with information on college life, but most of them come from a distinctly non-Christian point of view. For every bit of good advice you'll find, you'll also find questionable advice about "safe sex," "responsible drinking" and so forth—advice that clearly comes from a secular worldview. At best, you'll glean a few nuggets of good advice. At worst, you'll see things that could lead your child astray.

We would also recommend checking out the Web sites of the schools your child is considering, where you can learn more about college life on that particular campus. n

Copyright © 2002 by the author or Christianity Today International/Campus Life magazine.
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