Web site offers world of assistance

By Jina Tedmori
Daily Forty-Niner

The California College Explorer calls itself the one-stop Web site that provides information about higher education in California State University system.

Cal State Long Beach is one of the twenty CSU campuses participating in the program.  Besides the CSU system, many community colleges, University of California campuses and independent colleges and universities are also listed, according to the Web site.

"I wish there were more sites like this one," Jonathan Stephens, senior English major said. ." The more quality tools students have to choose from, the better."

The California College Explorer, www.colleges.edu, is helpful for incoming students. The largest section is dedicated to financial aid and costs of college.  In order to provide the most accurate financial advice there is a list of scenarios so each person can find what relates to them most.

This Web site offers many planning tools at no cost.  Applications can be printed, campus tours can be taken and academic preparation guides are available directly online.

The California College Explorer provides a career list and description that gives suggestions of majors that would be helpful for each career of choice.  At the end of each career page are links for colleges that offer the major suggested.

The Web site also presents a table that lists the fastest growing careers in California, what degrees are needed and how much the market has expanded in the past two years.

"The career planning part would be especially helpful now. ", Elsja Lundquist, junior Psychology Major said.  "I'm nearing my senior year and it is very convenient and helpful to have career opportunities listed at my finger tips."

Another Web site that offers assistance concerning college decisions is Colleges.com.  The Web site provides links to personality assessment tests that help with career development for each student's personality type. Career interest games are another way that students can test if their goals fit their personality.

The Web site is still under development and plans to add a scholarship and profile search that will allow each student to personalize the Web site.

A Los Angeles based company called XAP CORPORATION developed the site.  XAP has created many similar Web sites that have been developed for independent college associations.

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