Tools

Cool Tools

Determine your eligibility for education and training financial assistance.

NSLDS Student Access.
The site displays information on loan and/or grant amounts, outstanding balances, loan statuses, and disbursements. You will need an Electronic Access Code (EAC).

College Board EFC.
The EFC is used to determine your eligibility for federal and non-federal financial aid programs, and to estimate how much you can expect to pay toward college. Your EFC is subtracted from college costs to estimate your aid eligibility and financial need.

FAFSA and School Codes.
The Department of Education’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid Online with a school code look-up.

Financial Aid Calculators.
FinAidŽ’s calculators help you figure out cost, how much you need to save, and how much aid you’ll need. Check out the College Cost Projector, Savings Plan Designer, Financial Aid Estimation Calculator, and Loan Payment Calculator.

SallieMae Calculators.
Include forecasting college costs, estimating borrowing needs, accrued interest, monthly budget, and repayment.

eStudentloan LoanFinder.
Compare major lenders and apply online.

Award Letter Comparison Worksheet.
Worksheet from Nellie Mae that helps compare educational costs and financial aid awards at multiple schools.

FastWeb Student Loan Payment Predictor.
Calculate the size of your monthly loan payments and the annual salary required to manage them.

FastWeb Student Loan Analyzer.
Compare the size of your monthly loan payments for three loans at the same time, or add up payments for multiple loans.

US News Find Your Ideal School.
Access information on over 1,400 four-year colleges and get up-to-date admissions, academic, and financial aid information. Or find schools by location, cost, size, selectivity, major, student/faculty ratio, academic programs, religious affiliation, setting, diversity, and ranking.

US News College Comparison Worksheet.
Get comparisons of up to four schools with this handy work sheet.

The Adult College Selection Worksheet.
Decide which schools are best for you.

The Common Application.
The Common Application is the recommended form of 195 selective, independent colleges and universities for admission to their undergraduate programs. Many of these institutions use the form exclusively. All give equal consideration to the Common Application and the college’s own form.

Downloadable Forms.
Forms for loan deferment and forbearance. Provided by Educaid.

US News GPA Calculator.
For the semester, cumulative, or target. You can also calculate your course grade.
You can also total your credits with our online tool.

FreSch Scholarship Organizer.
This simple Scholarship Organizer is offered as a way for you to help keep yourself organized when requesting scholarship information and applying for scholarships.

Best Book Buys.
Compare textbook prices at 26 online book stores.

Distance Learning Calculator.The Distance Learning Calculator will help you determine how much money you will save by taking a college-course from your home.

Are You a Candidate for Life Experience Credit?

Take this simple quiz to find out.

Learning Styles Evaluation.

Older students tend to have multiple learning styles because their experience (jobs, military service, spouse and children) has taught them to adapt.

The Job Chooser.

Interactive quiz on personality traits suggests jobs that are right for you.

Akademosatcost.com
Completely cool. Get texbooks at cost and a break on test preparation material. Compiled by a Cornell University professor.

FinalExam.com.
Online diagnostic tests and assistance in core college classes.

College Tuition Chooser.
Choose your college based on the amount you’ll pay.

Web Wordsmith.
This tool conveniently links all the words on a page to online references such as the Merrian-Webster Dictionary and Thesaurus as well as a medical, computer and acronym dictionary.

Step-by-step Guide to Writing Term Papers.
Great guide for each step of an assignment.

The Tutorials Search Engine.
Learn more about anything, from business to society and culture. Very cool.

The Argument Clinic.
Submit a philosophical argument and see if you pass the exam.

Typing Test.
Qwert Yuiop? Find out how fast and accurate you are with this fun online test.

Google’s University Search.
This timesaving tool enables you to narrow your search to a specific school website. Search for admissions information, course schedules, or alumni news.

Finally! Here is a web-based interactive tool that assists in creating formatted bibliographies that can be printed. Users need to select a citation type at the bottom of the screen (MLA style). Also, check out Cite-Writer for bibliograhies while you wait.

Crunch Out Savings.
Figure loan and credit card payments.

US News GPA Calculator.
Get your grade point average for the semester, cumulative, or course grade. You can also total your courses and credits with our online tool. If you want to raise your GPA, an additional calculator helps students determine how many credit hours and what grade average they will need to raise their current GPA.

GPA+.
Student PIM helps you organize and keep track of classes and assignments and includes QuizBuilder and QuizTaker study tools. The program allows you to track current letter grades for each course and there is an integrated calendar for upcoming assignment due dates. Free 15-day trial version available for download.

Typing Test.
Qwert Yuiop? Find out how fast and accurate you are with this fun online test. Didn’t do as well as you hoped? Try the free typing tutor.

Learning Styles Evaluation.
Older students tend to have multiple learning styles because their experience (jobs, military service, spouse and children) has taught them to adapt.

Atomica.
Search tool that provides more information on any word on a Web page. Just point and alt-click for fast results.

Scholar’s Aid.
Manages bibliographical information and generates bibliography, endnote, footnote, reference list, and parenthetical entries with selected styles.

Research Assistant.
Popular download for the academic population enables students to compile and organize research project information. Web pages, documents, and images are structured as a unit and can be accessed with a simple command. Information can also be quickly and easily searched by keyword. Screen shot and overview of features is available.

FreeWriting and Mind Mapping.
The ultimate writing tool for brainstorming ideas and outlining a paper.

Create a Paper.
Template from Rio Salado provides assistance online in creating the rough draft of a standard five paragraph paper.

Step-by-step Guide to Writing Term Papers.
Great guide for each step of an assignment.

The Argument Clinic.
Submit a philosophical argument and see if you pass the exam.

NoodleBib.
Web-based interactive tool (requiring a paid subscription) that assists with online research and in creating formatted bibliographies. See also Cite-Writer and MLA Bibliography Builder. Do you use Microsoft Word? Learn how to format a paper in MLA style using this popular program. (Additional bibliographical resources: Bibliographies Made Easy, Easy Bib.)

Web Wordsmith.
This tool conveniently links all the words on a page to online references such as the Merrian-Webster Dictionary and Thesaurus as well as a computer and acronym dictionary.

Plagiarism Self-Tester.
How not to commit a “sin of omission.” Didn’t score well? See How Not to Plagiarize.

ClassMate.
Program with a suite of tools including a Degree Planner, Class Planner, Financial Planner, Daily Organizer, Weekly Organizer, and monthly and annual calendars. Students can plan their class schedule, calculate grade point average, and budget expenses.

Send this page to a friend!