By tamaraAre you a current high school student? If so, I’m betting that you spend most of your free time on your smartphone. That’s not a bad thing. In fact, your phone is a great college planning tool. You can use it to access social media sites that are teeming with information on how to improve your SAT or ACT scores, where to find scholarships, and how to put together a stellar college application. One of my favorite go-to resources for all things college is Twitter. Why? It’s simple. I can easily search for what I need (#scholarships, #collegeplanning, etc.) without having to deal with advertisements and other distractions. I can also post a question and get answers in a matter of seconds. If you’re thinking about college, or planning to attend very soon, it’s worth your time to follow these 10 Twitter handles for high school students! College Money Looking for scholarships and other financial aid help? These four Twitter handles will teach you everything you need to know about searching, applying, and winning free money for college. 1. @ScholarshipGuru It’s no surprise that I would put ScholarshipExperts.com at the top of the list. They tweet out four to six scholarships every day, along with other relevant content about financial aid. They are quick to answer any questions you may have and often post scholarships from outside their own website. If you need money for college, this is the Twitter feed to follow. 2. @FAFSA Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education, manages this account. They offer daily tips on scholarships, grants, and other types of college financial aid. During peak FAFSA season, they even answer questions in real time. If you’re a current college junior, be sure to add this handle to your list. 3. @AidScholarship I absolutely love Monica Matthews. She helped her son win over $100,000 for college and is the author of How to Win College Scholarships. She offers great tips about the scholarship application process and often tweets out new opportunities. Her advice is never preachy, and she’s always willing to help. Monica is one of the first tweeps I check out when I wake up each day. 4. @mint You can learn a lot from this Twitter handle. Not only does it teach you how to budget, but also how to track saving goals and make sensible financial decisions regarding college and life. It may not be as fun as some of the other Twitter accounts, but you’ll be grateful for the tips and tricks once you become a broke college student. College Planning Do you know how to pick the right college? Are you confused about which college entrance exams to take? All these questions and more can be answered by following these Twitter accounts. 5. @JodiOkun Jodi Okun is perhaps one of the savviest college planning counselors around. She is the founder of College Financial Aid Advisors and host of the weekly #CollegeCash segment on Twitter (Thursday nights at 8 p.m. EST). She is also a regular writer for several publications, including The Huffington Post. If you have questions about the college admissions process or financial aid, be sure to hit her up on Twitter. 6. @CollegeBlogs Lynn O’Shaughnessy, author of The College Solution and columnist for CBSMoneyWatch.com, provides expert advice on how to avoid college debt and how to plan for college. Her years of experience make her a trusted source in the college planning world. 7. @SuzanneShaffer Since 2008, Suzanne Shaffer has been helping students and parents navigate the college admission process on Twitter. She is an author, blogger, and all-around college expert who enjoys sharing her knowledge with those who need guidance through the confusing world of college admissions. 8. @getmetocollege Get Me to College, which is based in Los Angeles, provides tips on college test prep, high school coursework selection, summer planning, financial aid, and more. You don’t have to live in California to benefit from this Twitter handle, so be sure to follow it for all the latest college planning news. Just For Fun All work and no play makes for a boring day on Twitter. If you still want to learn about college, but need a little comic relief, check out two of my favorite Twitter handles. 9. @SurvivinCollege Looking for tips about college test prep or how to write an amazing scholarship essay? You won’t find it here. What you will get is some hilarious posts on how to deal with roommates and other aspects of college life. I guarantee it will make you laugh out loud at least once a day. 10. @HerCampus Of course, I saved the best for last. If you truly want to be entertained, check out HerCampus.com. It provides daily tweets about fashion, food, and fun – all related to college life. The articles are never dull and often spoof relevant pop-culture events. Whenever I’m having a bad day, I can count on this Twitter feed to put a smile back on my face. There are a ton of other great Twitter handles that offer financial aid and college planning advice, but these are my personal favorites. Over the last three years, I have come to rely on their advice and know that they truly care about helping students. If you know of a Twitter account that also helps high school students, please feel free to post it in the comment section. I’m always happy to check out new resources and share those that provide excellent advice and tips.