Bridge To Education Information for Middle School, High School and College Students

Secondary students can find unlimited information on the web to help prepare themselves for the future. DoDDS-Europe, in conjunction with the IMA-Europe School Transition Specialist (STS), offers the following web resources in this regard.


Middle School Students

High School Students

Financial Aid Sites

  • Athletic & Non Athletic Scholarships (191 kb doc) - This document was developed by the IMA School Transition Specialist to provide updated information on scholarship websites and availabilities.
  • College Board Scholarship Search - The College Board is a not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity.
  • Department of Education Student Guide - The Student Guide is the most comprehensive resource on student financial aid from the U.S. Department of Education. It covers the Department's major aid programs, including Pell Grants, Stafford Loans and PLUS Loans.
  • Department of Education's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on the Web - Families may use this site to complete and submit directly over the Internet the FAFSA Application for Federal Student Aid.
  • Information on applying electronically
  • Help completing the FAFSA
  • A list of Federal School Codes that you may need to complete the FAFSA
  • DoDEA Financial Aid Info
  • Fastweb - Students may register for scholarship information at Fastweb, one of the Internet's largest free scholarship search sites. FastWeb's scholarship search will automatically match available scholarships to the student's profile and eligibility requirements. For many awards students can apply right online. FastWeb will email updates to keep students posted as new scholarships become available. FastWeb advises students about scholarship opportunities tailored to them. All for free!!
  • Federal Student Financial Aid Homepage - The Student Financial Assistance Programs are the largest source of student aid in America, providing over $60 billion a year in grants, loans, and work-study assistance. It provides details about federal student aid programs, including who is eligible, how to apply and how to consolidate and pay back loans.
  • FinAid: The Financial Aid Information Page - This page (sponsored by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators) provides links to many sources of information about student financial aid. It also includes a Scholarship Scam Alert with important information about scams and how to avoid them as well as information on Sports and Athletic Scholarships
  • First Gov Benefits, Grants and Financial Aid - This FirstGov site contains information on Loans, Financial Aid, etc.
  • Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program - The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program was created by the State of Florida as the umbrella program for all state scholarships based on academic achievement in high school. Florida Bright Futures is composed of Florida Academic Scholars, Florida Merit Scholars, Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars, and Florida Top Scholar Awards. Florida Bright Futures programs are still undergoing changes by the state, so applicants and recipients should pay close attention to all materials received from the state. Students must complete a Florida Bright Futures Authorization Form by spring graduation.
  • FLORIDA RESIDENT GRADUATING FROM OUTSIDE A SCHOOL IN FLORIDA? The student earns a high school diploma from a non-Florida school while living with a parent or guardian who is on military or public service assignment away from Florida.
  • In State Tuition - This Army Human Resources Command website provides information regarding eligibility of active military service members and their families for in-state college tuition rates in their home state or state of duty assignment. State by state requirements listed.
  • Military Child Education Coalition - This website contains information for military dependent students. It includes links to scholarship sites, information on scholarship scams, and other scholarship resources.
  • Military.com Scholarship Search - Search scholarships and grants exclusive to the military community
  • Top Ten Ways to Unlock The Secrets of Financial Aid - This site gives a top ten list of helpful hints for financial aid.

Test Taking Sites

  • ACT (American College Testing Program) - The ACT Assessment is designed to assess high school students' general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work. The test covers four skill areas: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science Reasoning.
  • AP Central Workshop - This site is an online source for Advanced Placement (AP) programs offering AP exams and exam tips.
  • ETS Net -The Educational Testing Service Network - These are the folks that write the SAT I: Reasoning Test, SAT II: Subject Tests, AP, GRE, CLEP, etc. ETS Net provides sample test questions, test preparation, and test registration. It also contains information on college planning, financial aid, and links to college and university sites.
  • Kaplan Test Prep - KAPTEST is your one-stop destination on the web for test prep, admissions, and success in school and career. KAPTEST is committed to helping students achieve their education and career goals.
  • SAT Prep Is The Answer - This site houses hundreds of practical resources designed with the sole goal to boost test scores. It features comprehensive review information, timed exercises, 3 complete model tests, test-administration info, strategies, vocabulary, enhancement question of the day and extensive feedback features.
Related document: Free SAT Prep Kit Info

Identifying Colleges

  • Campus Tours - Visit virtual campuses of colleges and universities without leaving the country!! This site presents webcam tours, maps, and college videos for approximately 1,000 schools. It can be searched alphabetically or by state.
  • Coalition for Christian Colleges and Universities - Look here for links to colleges offering Christian based education. This site features Christiancollege.org, a search engine for Christian schools.
  • College and University Rankings - The Education and Social Science Library at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign assembled this directory of college ranking services. It covers the main surveys, as well as some more off-beat ones. For example, the site ranks colleges from the academic to the spiritual while one site looks at colleges most friendly to those with disabilities.
  • College Search From the College Board - College Search can help students identify potential colleges. This site includes a searchable database of over 3,200 institutions. related document: College Board Tips
  • Colleges Of Distinction - This website, drawing from high school counselors, college admission professionals, and educators, profiles colleges and universities throughout the United States that excel in four areas of distinction.
  • Degree Directory - DegreeDirectory.org is an online education directory with college, university, and trade school reviews. Students and working professionals can obtain information about undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, and career education programs.
  • Hot Topic: European Colleges/Universities (307 kb dec) - This document was developed by the IMA School Transition Specialist to provide an updated list of many of the colleges/universities offering programs or degrees to American students.
  • Guide to State Residency - Sponsored by The College Board, this site explains requirements for state residency, understanding the requirements for each state, evidence of domicile, tips for military families and more.

Planning Your Future Career

  • DoDEA's Career Explorer - Education and Career Planning Guide for DoDEA Students
  • Career Key - This site helps students figure out their personality traits and interests. Career Key then matches jobs to characteristics and lets users know more about careers that they would like.
  • Career Magazine - This site provides resume info, job opening database, employment profiles and more.
  • Dictionary of Occupational Titles - This site, published by US Department of Labor, includes a list of career choices and information on typical wages or salaries for many occupations.
  • FirstGov Jobs, Education and Volunteerism - FirstGov's site contains information on government jobs, educational resources, volunteer opportunities, etc.
  • Mapping Your Future - This extensive site provides information and links to a variety of college and career planning organizations. It is sponsored by a group of guaranty agencies that participate in the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) which is committed to providing information about higher education and career opportunities. Topics included are: planning a career, selecting a school, and paying for school.
  • Military Career Guide Online - This site contains information about enlisted and officer military careers. Click on SITE MAP to see detailed descriptions of Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine and Coast Guard Forces careers.
  • “My Road” - This free College Board site enables students, with the participation of their parents and educators, to develop online interest inventories, and view career paths and job clusters of value to them.
  • The Occupational Outlook Handbook - When considering potential college majors, students may check out employment trends in the electronic version of the Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2002-03. The entire handbook, searchable by keyword, is included.

General Information Sites

  • College Board Online - This is a comprehensive college information site. College Board Online includes College Board tests, programs, and online registration, a Test Question of the Day, SAT preparation, a searchable database of colleges, financial aid information (including a financial aid calculator), career planning information, a fee-based essay evaluation service, online shopping and more. Check out Starting Points for Students and Parents, Preparing for College, and Career Search Questionnaire.
  • College 411 - This site is a guide for students and parents with questions about planning for, choosing, paying for and making the most of college. Anyone who wants to go to college will find College 411 helpful. College 411 is organized into 6 sections: Minorities, Financial Aid, College Search, Internships and Study Abroad, General Information, and Parents. A site might contain more than one type of information. For example, a financial aid site might also have information about high school preparation for college. This site contains valid basic knowledge.
  • College Parents of America - This national membership association is dedicated to helping parents prepare and put their children through college easily, economically and safely. CPA is a resource, advisor, and advocate for the more than 32 million households with parents of current and future college students throughout the United States.
  • DODEA Schools Educate College Admissions Officers - This DODEA site is designed to explain the DODDS school system to college admissions officers. Students may want to cite it as part of their college application.
  • Peterson's Education Center - Peterson's website includes information about educational programs at all levels and provides searchable databases of colleges and academic programs including test prep and financial aid. It is similar in content to College Board Online.
  • Preparing Your Child for College - A site by the Dept. of Education that guides parents and students with a variety of topics including "Exercises and Checklists for You and Your Child." Check out "Getting Ready for College Early." Career planning and taking the right courses while in high school are covered.
  • Princeton Review Online - This extensive college and career information site includes data regarding colleges, scholarships, online admissions, paying for college, and test preparation for SAT I and II and ACT.
  • Students.gov - Students.gov assists prospective college students, their families, and guidance counselors in planning for college, applying for admission and aid, as well as receiving and repaying student loans.
  • SuperCollege.com - This site offers advice on writing a good entrance essay, taking exams and applying for scholarships and offers other information on the college experience start to finish.

College Students

College Student Travel Info

  • College Student Travel Info: (Army) Copy of Student Travel Entitlement Regulation (AR 55-46/JFTR, Vol 1) pdf document - see pages 9-11;
    • In accordance with AR 55-46/JFTR, Vol. 1. full time college students may be authorized one Government-funded roundtrip between the school and sponsor's duty station.
    • Up to 350 pounds of household goods shipment each fiscal year
  • Student Travel Entitlement & Household Goods Shipment - HQUSAREUR; only available from a .mil Domain This is an online form for student travel entitlement and household goods shipment.

Planning Your Future Career

  • DoDEA's Career Explorer - Education and Career Planning Guide for DoDEA Students
  • Career Key - This site helps students figure out their personality traits and interests. Career Key then matches jobs to characteristics and lets users know more about careers that they would like.
  • Career Magazine - This site provides resume info, job opening database, employment profiles and more.
  • Dictionary of Occupational Titles - This site, published by US Department of Labor, includes a list of career choices and information on typical wages or salaries for many occupations.
  • FirstGov Jobs, Education and Volunteerism - FirstGov's site contains information on government jobs, educational resources, volunteer opportunities, etc.
  • Mapping Your Future - This extensive site provides information and links to a variety of college and career planning organizations. It is sponsored by a group of guaranty agencies that participate in the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) which is committed to providing information about higher education and career opportunities. Topics included are: planning a career, selecting a school, and paying for school.
  • Military Career Guide Online - This site contains information about enlisted and officer military careers. Click on SITE MAP to see detailed descriptions of Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine and Coast Guard Forces careers.
  • “My Road” - This free College Board site enables students, with the participation of their parents and educators, to develop online interest inventories, and view career paths and job clusters of value to them.
  • The Occupational Outlook Handbook - When considering potential college majors, students may check out employment trends in the electronic version of the Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2002-03. The entire handbook, searchable by keyword, is included.