Student Search Service®
Student Search Service (SSS) is a free information service for students who take the PSAT/NMSQT®, SAT®, Advanced Placement® (AP®), SAT Subject Tests™ or a Preliminary SAT Scoring Service (PSSS) exam.
Participating in SSS helps you introduce yourself to colleges and scholarship organizations by letting them know that you are interested in hearing from them. In return, colleges, scholarship organizations and nonprofit educational enrichment and opportunity organizations will send you admissions and financial aid information.
These institutions are looking for students like you and SSS is a primary way for them to find students who may be a good fit. Likewise, SSS helps students learn about college and financial aid options while planning for college — and you can determine which colleges are a good fit for you.
How to participate in SSS:
To participate, indicate "yes" to the Student Search Service question on your answer sheet each time you take the PSAT/NMSQT exam. Participation is completely voluntary and you may stop participation at any time by contacting SSS.
What happens next?
Colleges, universities, and scholarship programs sponsored by governmental and nonprofit organizations that use Student Search Service select students to communicate with based on, for example, a specific grade average, intended majors, or if you live in a particular state or ZIP code.
While the College Board and SSS do not share your exam scores with any colleges, universities or scholarship organization, they may use a score range to search for students.
The following information about you is sent to colleges, universities, and scholarship organizations:
- Name
- Address
- Gender
- Birth date
- High school code
- Graduation year
- Ethnic identification (if provided)
- Intended college major (if provided)
- Email address (if provided)
All who receive information from SSS are required to maintain strict confidentiality. The College Board and ETS actively review all uses to ensure adherence to guidelines. The College Board also does not share your phone number or Social Security Number with any institution or organization.
Your information will be available through December of your senior year (or if you are out of high school when you take an exam, through the December following your exam date).
Why should I participate?
The vast majority of college-bound students opt in to SSS to receive information about admissions, financial aid and other postsecondary opportunities without being solicited by commercial entities. Students consistently report that while they enjoy receiving information about familiar colleges and universities, they especially enjoy hearing from colleges and universities with which they were previously unfamiliar. This is particularly the case for students currently underrepresented in higher education and students from first-generation college families.
Participation in SSS is a great way to understand what different colleges can offer you. Each college is different and you will better understand things like their application process, financial aid packages and campus life.
More than 1,100 colleges, universities and scholarship programs use SSS every year to find the right students for their programs, scholarships and special activities.
Please don't hesitate to email the College Board's Student Search Service (SearchCustomerService@collegeboard.com) or call (866) 825-8051 if you have questions or wish to remove your name, email address, or both from the service.
Note About Test-Prep Product Solicitations
The College Board makes every effort to protect a student's privacy. When a student takes a College Board exam, such as the PSAT/NMSQT, the SAT® or an Advanced Placement (AP®) Exam, he or she has a choice to "opt in" to Student Search Service (SSS). If the student says yes, this enables the College Board to provide that student's basic information to eligible colleges and universities, scholarship programs and certain higher education enrichment opportunities.
While the College Board recommends that students take advantage of our free and low-cost practice tools in order to help them do their best on test day, it is our strict policy to NOT sell student information to test-preparation companies, nor are such companies affiliated with the College Board.
We recommend the following precautions if you receive unsolicited calls from persons identifying themselves as belonging to a test-preparation company:
- Never provide credit card information.
- Don't commit to a purchase regardless of the caller's high-pressure tactics.
- Get the company's contact information and the name of the caller; ask for a callback number.
- Contact your local consumer affairs office, your local Better Business Bureau and/or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) if the company continues to make unsolicited phone calls.
To learn more about our Student Search Service policy, go to the "Authorized Usage" section of our Student Search Service User Guide.
