Wiredscholar.com launches Web site for guidance counselors - tech briefs

Black Issues in Higher Education, Dec 4, 2003 by Ronald Roach

RESTON, VA.

Wiredscholar.com, Sallie Mac's award-winning college financial planning Web site, has recently launched a new online resource for high-school guidance professionals. The High School Counselor Resource, available at <http://counselor.wiredscholar.com>, helps advisers counsel their students on planning and paying for college. It also provides counselors with professional development opportunities, interactive tools and information on higher education events and topics.

"Knowing that a guidance counselor's time is at a premium, the tools and resources featured on High School Counselor Resource were designed--with input from guidance professionals--to help them advise their students on all aspects of planning and paying for college," says David Cooper, managing director of wiredscholar.com.

The site contains interactive college-preparation and financing tools, including practice standardized exams, school affordability and comparison resources, college cost calculators and a scholarship database with 2.4 million scholarships worth more than $14 billion. Additionally, the site provides information on the college admissions process, including tips on how top colleges judge applicants.

The High School Counselor Resource offers guidance professionals presentations and survey data that can help broaden their skills and provide relevant information for students, teachers, schools and other groups with an interest or role in higher education. Additionally, counselors can tap into a network of college admissions and counseling professionals to get answers to frequently asked questions.

By registering to receive an e-mail newsletter, counselors can receive information every month and join discussions on hot topics in the education community. Additionally, the Web site includes a comprehensive, monthly calendar of college fairs, workshops and test dates.

Wiredscholar.com is a leading online resource for college planning information for students, parents and guidance professionals. Launched in spring 2000, the site is a comprehensive resource on the Web for information and interactive tools to assist with college preparation, evaluation, selection, application and financing. The site is a four-time "Forbes Favorite" in the college-planning category in Forbes.com's "Best of the Web."

Wiredscholar.com is an independent brand of Sallie Mae, the nation's largest source of education funding.