5 Amazing College Prep Resources Every Student Needs

Every now and then, I get a hyperbole-filled recommendation from a former student about resources they love that I want to share with everyone else. These are genuine resources that either I’ve used or have been personally recommended to me - I get zero money for this and am sharing because I sincerely think they’ll be helpful. If you have any you’d love to add that have made your college application easier, please let me know!

1) If you need help proofreading your admissions essay
I’ve been using Grammarly as a second pair of eyes for years, and love it! It’s a (free) tool that can catch typos, which is so important when proofreading your Common App before submission. I already discussed the secrets to proofreading your admissions essay, but this is a great secondary tool to use in addition to reading the draft out loud and showing it to someone who’s never seen it. Of course, no online tool can compare to an experienced editor, but this a wonderful supplement if your eyes are losing focus. Just download the Chrome extension and boom! Good to go.

2) If you need help finding cool internships
Of course, there’s the LinkedIn juggernaut which makes applying super easy with one click. I’ve also been sharing any cool opportunities I see on my Twitter. And the best way to find a unique internship or research opportunity? Do your own research and email the college, professor, or opportunity directly asking for help. I’ve had multiple students find one-of-a-kind opportunities that way. Every place you can think of could use free help from a talented student!

3) If you need help finding easy scholarships
My go-to in high school was FastWeb, which is an amazing scholarship search engine that we used to find the famous $100,000 essay contest. But these days, current college students love the new site Going Merry which is genius and I wish was around when I was applying. Going Merry is like the Common App of scholarship sites and lets you apply to multiple scholarships at once with easy auto-fill options. Appily is a new resource that could help you find colleges and also instantly match you with acceptances and scholarships.

4) If you need help overcoming writer’s block
Even professional writers get writer’s block, which is what happens when you’re feeling stuck and can’t write. I covered a few tips to beat writer’s block, but this is a new approach I just discovered. A copywriter friend recently introduced me to this brilliant motivational pep talk that is perfect for when you’re feeling blocked, stressed, or uninspired.

5) If you need help battling admissions anxiety
Is there anything more stressful than college admissions?! I’ve already shared these 4 ways to overcome writing anxiety that have worked for me personally. Recently, I came upon these other fabulous anxiety resources for teens. First, I recommend Therahive’s adolescent DBT course - fully accessible online with fabulous therapists that are perfect for this age group. I completed their Distress Tolerance segment and found it life-changing. Second, many parents swear by these UK-based go-at-your-own-pace resources for neurodivergence.

What are some of your must-have resources?

This article was originally published in February 2020 and has been updated with new information.