College Guide: picking the right college, getting in, paying for college, freshman year

Friday, November 30, 2007 - Page updated at 01:20 a.m.

Choosing a school | Making that decision — Together

What generation gap? Students and their parents can find ways to make a choice of college work for everyone.

Resources
Profiles | Happy with their choices

Community colleges changing course as students, needs shift

Around the country, community colleges are trying to adapt to increasing demand from young students and, in some cases, are beginning to resemble university campuses.

The new landscape of
financial aid

It's been a year of major change in the world of financial aid.

Strategies for building college savings (PDF)
Major sources of financial aid
More resources

BETTY UDESEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Junior-year journal

Junior year is known as the most crazy-busy-stressful of high school for college-bound students. Last fall we asked writer Suzanne Monson and her daughter Kelsey, then a junior at Shorecrest High, to each keep a journal of the rollercoaster year.

Seattle Times College Guide

Q&As | Here's your chance to get your admissions and financial-aid questions answered by the experts — for free.

How to choose the right college
Read the discussion
How to best finance college
Read the discussion

" What are questions that students should be asking when looking for scholarship or other financial aid/loans?"

— Diane, Port Orchard

Resources:

List of select colleges in Washington and Oregon

Timeline - what to do when to prepare

Which career? Take a quiz to test your likes and aptitudes

Are you prepared?

Bulk up | Good grades aren't enough | Trouble signs

More resources

Feedback: Let us know what you think

A selection of video tours and interviews with students from local universities.

Seattle University
University of Washington
Seattle Pacific University
Cornish College of the Arts

Picking a path

Traditional college doesn't fit? Consider these alternatives

Notable in the Northwest

Are they really the "best" schools?

Online universities

Community college or four-year?

New ways to get B.A.s

MORE TIPS FOR CHOOSING — FOR STUDENTS ONLY

College fairs | Tour hundreds of colleges for free, without leaving town

Weighing the gap year

Archive | Quality schools to "B" students: Welcome

Gap year tips

Archive | When choosing a college, "test-drive" it

Archive | Visit colleges on the cheap

Archive | What to do when you visit

College Guide - Let us know what you think

Getting in

SAT prep resources

Increase your chances of getting accepted

Rating the online college-search tools

Summers that count

Help for low-income or minority students

Archive | What experts suggest high school students do to bulk up for college

Archive | Even high achievers often find they aren't prepared; here's how to make sure you are

Archive | Trouble signs: What the stats tell us

Figuring out financing

The new landscape of financial aid

More information on financial aid

Scam-free scholarship info

Strategies for building college savings (PDF)

How's the job market for college grads?

Making the most of college

How to succeed in your first year

Resources for special-needs students

Notable in the Northwest

The drug and alcohol scene: what a parent can do

National report suggestions for reducing substance abuse

Archive | Student to student: What I learned freshman year

Archive | Hot majors: Sift through the popular to find your passion

Archive | Hottest majors nationwide

Archive | Hot majors in Washington

Archive | Tips that transfer into the real world

Staff

How to get copies of the print section
You can pick up additional free copies of this guide after Oct. 31 at Seattle Times offices, while supplies last. For more than 50 copies, please call 206-464-2299 to order ahead, subject to availability. The Seattle Times main office: 1120 John St., Seattle. Lobby hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., M-F. Seattle Times Eastside News Bureau: 1200 112th Ave. N.E., Suite C-145, Bellevue. Lobby hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. M-F. The Times of Snohomish County: 1133 164th St. S.W., Suite 101, Lynnwood. Lobby hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. M-F. SE Living Bureau:19308 70th Ave. S., Bldg. B, Kent. Lobby hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. M-F.