Resources
helpful tools for students and families
Below are curated resources to support success, balance, and well-being. For students, higher ed professionals, and anyone seeking information on college access, persistence, and research tools — these aim to make higher education more navigable and a lot more encouraging.
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American Association of Community Colleges
This is the primary advocacy organization for community colleges in the United States, representing more than 12,000 2 year institutions and 12 million students.
American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU)
The AASCU is the combined voices of over 400 colleges and universities aimed at creating effective public policy and leadership to encourage students to persist and overcome economic barriers to achieving higher education.
American Council on Education (ACE)
ACE is a membership organization that encourages the higher education community (students, staff, faculty, etc.) to invest in policy and leadership efforts towards fostering higher quality practice.
National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU)
This is the largest organization representing private, nonprofit institutions. NAICU focuses on policy reform and advocacy for increasing the experience of independent colleges and universities.
State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO)
SHEEO serves the chief executives of statewide governing, policy and coordinating boards of higher education and their staffs and aim to promote equitable education of all students and advocate for state higher education leadership.
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A guided resource journal for campus visits specifically created for college-bound students. This book encourages students to weigh the considerations of each campus using ratings, scales, checkboxes, questions and includes helpful resources for the admissions process. Discount code coming soon in the Cap & Company Merch store.
Magoosh is a site dedicated to providing the most up-to-date college test preparation resources for graduate and professional exams like the GRE, GMAT, MCAT, and LSAT.
Magoosh believes every student should have access to the tools and resources necessary to help them further their education. Our goal is to make students, educators, and families aware of the resources we offer.Through the experiences of others, Road Trip Nation is a good resource for those exploring different career paths.
Texas OnCourse is a state-funded initiative to improve college and career readiness. This resource is built by educators and teachers to guide students on navigating post-high school — a great place to go if you are just starting in college or searching for specific resources.
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ProFellow is a fellowship directory with a host of resources. This is a great place for fellowship seekers, fellowship alumni, and/or sponsors to find related tips and tools.
Fellowships are a great way to fund your degree, while also participating in meaningful professional development. This directory has a comprehensive list of potential fellowship opportunities for any incoming college or graduate student.
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An intiative of Bank of America, Better Money Habits has resource for individuals who are looking to invest in their financial literacy. There are up-to-date articles and tools that allow users to understand more about their finances and how to utilize their money best.
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Center for First-Generation Student Success
NASPA, an organization for Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education, and The Suder Foundation, started this initiative as an all-inclusive space for first-generation college and graduate students to go for resources and services.
Affirming the experiences, amplifying the voices, and celebrating the brilliance of first-gen doc students.
This is a detailed report by Kathleen Cushman with Next Generation Press aimed at providing valuable advice to first-generation college students.
I’m First! is an initiative of the national nonprofit, Strive for College. The goal of I’m First! is to provide students who lack a family history of higher education with inspiration, information, and support.
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This is a detailed and specific directory for all graduate programs. This is perfect for someone who is looking for one single website to guide them as they begin and process through their graduate school application journey.
National Association of Graduate-Professional Students
NAGPS is an organization focused on supporting the emotional and spiritual needs of graduate and professional students. Find a number of resources and supportive communities on this website.
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The Chronicle of Higher Education
This newspaper and website presents news, information and job postings for college and university students, faculty and staff.
Cornell Higher Education Research Institute (CHERI)
CHERI was established as a tool for interdisciplinary higher education research to be housed and take place. Affiliated faculty and researchers come from many of the top institutions in the United States.
Inside Higher Ed is a media and publication company, focusing on delivering relevant news affecting students in higher education, student affairs professionals, and anyone else who is affected by educational institutions.
Institute for Research on Higher Education (IRHE)
IRHE, located at the University of Pennsylvania, focuses on action-oriented policy research to promote success in education and post-secondary training.
Stanford Institute for Higher Education Research (SIHER)
SIHER is the home to sponsored research projects and programs that explores the various perspectives of a wide range of contemporary issues and policies in higher education and postsecondary success and improvement.
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The Calm App is a place to find sleep, meditation and relaxation-focused practices. Whether it is to learn more about meditation, get more restful sleep, or to find resources that encourage relaxation, this app has it all.
If you haven’t heard of Dr. Caroline Leaf, she’s a phenomenal resource. She has spent the last 30 years researching the nature of mental health, mind-brain connection, and formation of memory. Check out her podcast, blog and the SWITCH app to help alleviate depression, anxiety and toxic thinking.
Headspace is a meditation app committed to advancing mindfulness through meditation while also advancing clinically-validated research practices. This is a great app to find intentional practices aimed at reducing stress and anxiety. Some organizations such as the American Medical Association may provide free to members.
This free and confidential phone line reaches graduate students who may be struggling with a crisis, suicidal ideation, and other stresses. Professionals are ready on the line for whoever feels they need to call.
Sleep.org is a website that provides informative, evidence-based content and recommendations about sleep, health, science, and more. For an example of a helpful resource this website holds, check out this article on all-nighters below.
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An easy to use app that allows you to download articles so that you are able to access them when you’re offline — great for tablets.
A classic and popular resource that provides guidance and help with citations — essential for all those papers you write in college/grad school!
A search tool that allows students to find books, DVDs and CDs in libraries near them.
A free, easy-to-use tool to “help you collect, organize, cite, and share research.” Dr. Cap used this platform for her own dissertation and wishes she would have started sooner!
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The FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is an integral part of the student experience. Students: your institution will use your FAFSA to determine your financial aid benefits.
A one-stop shop scholarship database.
HSF is an established organization that has given over $470 million in scholarships. This compiled list of resources is specifically for incoming or current college students who identify as Hispanic.
Tips on best practices when applying to scholarships.
Scholarship Information for Students of Color
A list of scholarships specifically for historically marginalized ethnic identities.
U.S. News Graduate School Scholarship Guide
U.S. News and World Report created this guide of databases and tips for prospective graduate students looking for more financial support.
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Community College Research Center
The Community College Research Center (CCRC) believes that community colleges provide critical access to postsecondary education, and focuses on research that evidences how these institutions are critical for social mobility and equity in the American higher education system.
IPEDS, or the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, has cultivated a comprehensive glossary of terms relevant to educational research.
The Lumina Foundation is committed to making higher education accessible to all, through grants, research, and other education-based efforts to advance educational equity.
National Center for Education Statistics
The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is the primary entity for collecting and analyzing data related to education in the United States.
National Student Clearinghouse
The National Student Clearinghouse is a non-profit organization that aims to provide educational reporting, data exchange and verification, and research services without the typical costs and burdens that come with it.
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National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students
An organization supporting transfer student success through education, research, and advocacy.
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Best Jobs for Returning Servicemen
Check out this article for a list of potential careers and positions for returning servicemen, in addition to tips and tricks on how to navigate the return.
Student Veterans of America (SVA) is committed to investing in the educational experience of all veterans. SVA chapters can be found at many universities and colleges, and provide a community of individuals with comparable service backgrounds to utilize as support systems.
Today’s Military website was created by the United States Department of Defense as a resource for young adults, parents, educators, and others who are curious about what military service looks like. The goal of the website is to show an accurate image of what it looks like to work, live, and serve in today’s Military.
The Department of Veterans Affairs developed the VetSuccess on Campus (VSOC) program to support and aid veterans and servicemembers as they process through their academic journey. Click below to find the VSOC representative at your university or the university nearest you.