U.S. Department of State

Diplomacy in Action

Stay Connected with State.gov

Home » Under Secretary for Management » Bureau of Human Resources » Family Liaison Office (FLO) » Education and Youth » College and Beyond

• Scholarships, Financial Aid and Student Internships
• Educational Travel Allowance
• Guide to Obtaining a Driver's License
• When a Child Becomes an Adult

Parents of high school students should visit The College Board website.

Each year, the College Board serves 7 million students and their parents, 23,000 high schools, and 3,800 colleges through major programs and services in college admissions, guidance, assessment, financial aid, enrollment, and teaching and learning. Among its best-known programs are the SAT®, the PSAT/NMSQT®, and the Advanced Placement Program® (AP®).

For the latest news from The College Board, read their Press Releases.

Standardized Tests for College Admission

• The College Board: Testing (SATs and Subject Tests, AP, CLEP, PSAT / NMSQT)
• ACT Assessment
• TOEFL Testing
• Comparison of 2011 Mean SAT Scores – SAT I and SAT II Subject test scores, comparing students in overseas schools (sponsored by the Office of Overseas Schools) with the national average and various Washington area school districts.

Finding the Right College or University for You

• The College Board - Information on planning for college
• Thompson/Petersons - Offers college application and search guides online.
• American School Search - Guide to colleges and universities.
• The Fiske Guide to Colleges - College search and application process.
• College Athletes - Offers a free service linking students with athletic and academic opportunities at U.S. Division 3 colleges and universities.
• Virtual Tours of College Campuses
• Maryland Mentor - A student services website representing the statewide and independent colleges and universities of Maryland.
• Greater Washington College Information Center
• College Results Online - This is a site where students who are researching colleges can search for information regarding graduation rates, learn about graduation rates of diverse students, and compare the graduation rates of similar colleges and universities.

College Applications

• The College Board - Information on Applying to Colleges and Universities
• A University of Virginia admissions officer offers advice on writing a great college essay
• CollegeNET: This site offers more than 1,500 online applications and features CollegeNET’s Mach 25 scholarship search

College and the Student with Special Needs

• College planning for students with learning disabilities
• Virginia College Quest - A Guide to College Success for Students with Disabilities
• LD Online – College & College Prep - A resource for students with learning disabilities enrolled in or planning to attend college. Includes basic information, helpful articles, links and Q&A.
• Council for Exceptional Children - Largest international professional organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for those with exceptionalities – gifted or disabled.
• Education's Most Damaging "Urban Legend" - Columnist Rick Lavoie dispels the myth that kids won't get help with their work once they get to college. The article takes a look at the various learning support centers available on college campuses today.

Residency Requirements

• The College Board maintains residency requirements by state.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

• Visit FLO's page for Scholarships and Financial Aid

Educational Travel for Students in College/University or Accredited Vocational Training

• Education Travel Allowances
• FAQs for Education Travel Allowance

Additional Resources

• Tips for Teaching Students about Savings and Investing from the SEC
• The Princeton Review: Among the most active on this list, The Princeton Review’s site excerpts content from its college guides, while also offering message boards, a financial package comparison calculator, online applications, and advice from experts.
• U.S. News & World Report: Posts its annual college rankings on this site, as well as content from its print guide.
• CollegeView: Combines a college search with interactive presentations about colleges. It also includes content for students with special interests ranging from health professions to Christian colleges.
• Fiske Guide to Getting into the Right College, Edward B. Fishke & Bruce G. Hammond, 2007
• College Planning for Gifted Students by Sandra L. Berger, 2006

FLO Web links for the College Search and Application Process

Education Travel Allowance
Scholarships, Financial Aid, and Student Internships
When a Child Becomes an Adult
Guide to Obtaining a Driver's License