There are many books, websites, and online articles written about college admissions. Here are some I've found helpful:
BOOKS:
- The Insider's Guide to the Colleges: students on campus tell you what you really want to know
- The Princeton Review: the best 381 colleges
- Colleges That Change Lives
- Fiske Guide to Colleges
- College Match: a blueprint for choosing the best school for you
WEBSITES:
- Collegedata.com
- Collegeboard.com
- Niche.com
- Collegeview.com
- http://time.com/money/4840241/college-help-application-search-calculators/
ONLINE ARTICLES:
What every 18 year old should know:
A Stanford dean on adult skills every 18-year-old should have
Hiring a counselor:
https://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/should-we-hire-a-private-college-counselor/
https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/why-you-need-a-college-counselor
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/ishan-puri/do-you-need-a-college-admissions-counselor_b_6952174.html