Illinois Student Assistance Commission Launches WhatsNextIllinois.org

ISAC, CPS partner to deliver comprehensive statewide college & career planning

CHICAGO -- The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) announced the launch of a new Web site, WhatsNextIllinois.org, providing students and schools with the tools needed to improve college opportunity and lifelong success through college and career planning, college applications, electronic high school transcript processing and test preparation.

“We are excited to introduce the next generation of online college and career planning services for the students of Illinois,” said Andy Davis, Executive Director of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. “The enhanced functionality will allow students and families to better plan and prepare for life after high school at no cost to them.”

The site encompasses features from the site it replaces, IllinoisMentor.org, along with adding transcripts and high school application functionality specific to Chicago Public Schools, which joined this partnership in the move to a single statewide solution that provides these free services to high schools, students and families.

“We know that students who start planning for college and careers at an early age have a greater chance for success after high school,” said Jerusha Rogers, Officer of the Department of College and Career Preparation at the Chicago Public Schools. “We are pleased to be partnering with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to provide students with a resource to help them develop these plans and improve the college and career outcomes for CPS graduates.”

WhatsNextIllinois.org is a comprehensive, fully integrated, interactive one-stop career and college planning resource representing the combined best of XAP Choices® Planner career exploration modules, IllinoisMentor college planning and financing tools, and the Choices® Explorer career exploration suite for middle schools.

Users are now able to register for a free account and are encouraged to explore the new suite of college and career planning services available at WhatsNextIllinois.org.

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission provides students of all ages and backgrounds with the resources and support to obtain financial aid for higher education. A state agency, ISAC has paved the path to post-secondary education with innovative programs for over 50 years. Last year alone, ISAC continued its mission to make college accessible and affordable for Illinois students by issuing 186,000 grants and scholarships totaling nearly $431 million. 

The Commission provides educational funding with student loans, as a loan guarantor and via numerous public programs such as the Monetary Award Program (MAP), the Illinois Veteran Grant  and College Illinois!®, the Commission’s groundbreaking 529 prepaid college tuition program. Students and families have free access to a wealth of financial aid and college planning information at ISAC’s family of websites available at www.knowhow2goillinois.org/.

About ISAC
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission is the State’s centralized provider of financial assistance aimed at helping students and families access postsecondary education and/or training. Each year, the Commission awards an estimated $400 million in scholarship and grant aid to nearly 185,000 qualified students, and also provides an additional $740 million to borrowers through its student loan programs. The agency offers credit-based alternative loans, a 529 prepaid tuition program known as College Illinois!, and a broad array of outreach and informational services to ensure that families have access to the information they need to pay for a college education. More information is available by calling toll-free 800.899.ISAC (4722) or visiting the agency’s Web site at www.collegezone.com.