Plan
Open resource College Scorecard
Compare colleges by cost, fields of study, graduation outcomes, and other federal data.
U.S. Department of EducationCollege readiness resources
The next step gets easier when you know where to look.
Use these trusted tools and practical Rainey Day tips to research colleges, understand costs, prepare applications, and keep the whole family organized.
Good information becomes powerful when it leads to one clear action.
Plan • pay • apply • prepareResource library
Filter by the decision in front of you.
External links open official resources in a new tab. Internal action tips can be started today with tools you already have.
Plan
Open resource BigFuture College Search
Explore colleges, majors, careers, and planning tools in one place.
College BoardPay
Open resource Free Application for Federal Student Aid
Start the FAFSA, review required information, and access official federal aid guidance.
Federal Student AidPay
Open resource Federal Student Aid Estimator
Get an early estimate of possible federal student aid before completing the FAFSA.
Federal Student AidPay
Open resource RDCF Scholarships
Review current Rainey Day College Foundation scholarship opportunities and requirements.
Rainey Day College FoundationApply
Open resource Common App
Research colleges and manage applications accepted by participating institutions.
Common AppPrepare
Action tipBuild your college folder
Keep transcripts, activity lists, recommendation contacts, financial-aid records, and drafts in one organized place.
Rainey Day readiness tipPrepare
Action tipCreate a deadline calendar
Track application, scholarship, FAFSA, housing, enrollment-deposit, and orientation dates together.
Rainey Day readiness tipFamily
Action tipSchedule a monthly college check-in
Use one short meeting to review deadlines, money questions, decisions, and who owns each next step.
Rainey Day family tipFamily
Action tipCompare the full cost
Look beyond tuition to housing, meals, travel, books, supplies, insurance, and personal expenses.
Rainey Day family tipThe readiness folder
Keep the details from becoming the obstacle.
Create one secure digital folder and one calendar for the entire college process. Families should agree on who can access each item.
Suggested sections
- College list and comparison notes
- Transcript and activity résumé
- Essay and personal statement drafts
- Recommendation contacts and requests
- Financial-aid documents and award letters
- Acceptance, housing, deposit, and orientation records
Take the next step
Turn one resource into one completed task.
Choose the decision that matters most this week, open the matching resource, and write down the next action before you leave the page.