AS I WIND DOWN FROM MY CAREER at Diablo Valley College this final term as instructor/counselor, I wanted to share some very favorite websites that everyone interested in college would enjoy using. So here are some top picks:

1) assist.org — The one site that we in community college counseling all genuflect and ruminate over. It’s particularly strong for helping students navigate and plan their transfer over to a so-called four-year college that’s in the state-funded system of publicly funded colleges and universities. It includes all 23 state schools, the nine undergraduate UCs and the 114 community colleges by allowing each school to translate course numbers and titles, majors and GE requirements. Does a course transfer from DVC to Cal? What about pre-reqs? Who offers a major in what I think I want? Can I transfer “undeclared?” It’s all here.

2) csumentor.edu — The focus here is on the 23 state schools, from Humboldt State down to San Diego State. Great fun to navigate. Who offers what majors and what specialized concentrations? And what are the costs and the size and setting and what if I can’t sort out among all the choices? How to finance things? Study Abroad options, anyone? Which majors/campuses are impacted and particularly competitive? It’s here.

3) ucop.edu — This one explores the often-convoluted world of the UCs, but opens you up to their many, many treasures. Particularly suitable if you’re considering grad school as well. Similar in focus to #2 above.

4) aiccu.edu — Want to know more about the 60-plus schools that are independent or so-called “private colleges?” Here’s a starting point site. Spoiler alert! Realize a few things: the always steep “sticker-price” is often not the actual cost, after financial aid, institutional grants, scholarships, et al. (Remember, they’re not funded at all by tax dollars.) Next, they can be quite unique in their requirements, programs and pathways, though usually not excessively so; patience and questioning pay off. Third, make sure they are fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) —and that it’s stated so in their official catalog. (Other accreditation groups are not enough: WASC is simply the “gold standard.”)

5) finaid.edu — Very best all-around home base for accessing info of anything under the sun referring to financial aid: scholarships, private- versus government-backed loans, FAFSA forms, early admissions, parent savings vehicles, student loan forgiveness options, scholarship sites, etc.

6) utexas.edu/world/univ/state — Dying to study film at NYU like Woody Allen almost did? What about meeting the dons at Oxford, England? Or the incredible humanities offerings in France’s Sorbonne? This site opens up a college search on a worldwide basis: We’re not just in Benicia anymore, Toto …

7) contracostacareers.org — For those investigating the now-hot field of Career Technical Education (aka trades or “voc ed” jobs to we old Boomers), this site provided copious links and real-life marketplace information about entering technical fields through the many programs offered at the Contra Costa Community Colleges: Los Medanos, Contra Costa and Diablo Valley colleges.

A bonus site: career.berkeley.edu is the home page for the astonishing Cal Career Center. Lots of information on upcoming internships, speakers, career fairs, panelists, etc., some of which are open to the general public. When looking for work of any sort, go to the search box and download their “Job and Internship Guide” where you’ll find the finest compilation of career advice and job search tips on the planet. Cal got it done!

And . . . a note for those interested in private schools — an area we’ve learned quite a bit about all last year:

Visit collegeconfidential.com for great insider perspectives and anecdotes, particularly from the students’ unvarnished viewpoints. And above all, check out the annual college issues of US News and Forbes magazines. Forbes — that capitalist icon — is very clever at researching the financial “ratings” of private colleges, as well as listing those that are truly committed to not only merit-based but also need-based financial aid. Schools vary widely in this area. Trust me, you’ll want to consider both sorts of aid, and if you do your research and plan well in advance, that sticker price can diminish considerably. Four-year completion rates are usually the norm, along with serious efforts to have students get their first-choice classes with low faculty-to-student ratios and considerable opportunities throughout their academic careers and beyond. . . .

Rob Peters is a long-time resident of Benicia. He has been a full-time counselor at Diablo Valley College for more than two decades.

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