当搜索关键字“大学申请协助”搜索时，谷歌搜索引擎在互联网上检索出了五亿多条结果。
It is hard to say how long it would take to look at all 500 million, but no one has that kind of time.
很难说看完所有这5亿条搜索结果需要多长时间，但是谁都没这种时间。
Now, five higher education groups are trying to make the college application process simpler.
现在，五家高等教育组织正在试图让大学申请流程更为简单。
The five started a website – with the goal of providing all the college information students need in one place. It offers help to students and their parents as they learn about and complete the college application process.
这五家组织开办了一个网站，目的是把学生需要的所有高校信息集中到一处。在学生及家长了解和完成大学申请的过程中，该网站向他们提供帮助。
The website's address is www.steps2college.org.
该网站的网址是www.steps2college.org。
The site provides information about important dates in the college admission process, help with application forms and sources of financial aid.
网站提供了大学录取流程中重要日程的相关信息，并在大学申请表和助学贷款来源方面提供帮助。
Although designed for American students, it can be a big help to other students, says Laura Owen of American University in Washington, D.C. She directs the Center for Postsecondary Readiness and Success at American's School of Education.
位于华盛顿特区的美利坚大学的劳拉·欧文（Laura Owen）表示，虽然该网站是为美国学生设计的，但是对其它学生来说可能也有很大的帮助。她负责美国教育学院的大学准备和成功中心。
"There is a lot of information provided -- in a single place," Owen said.
欧文表示，“这个网站上提供了很多信息。”
American University helped to create the website. The other creators are the ACT Center for Equity in Learning, the American Council on Education, Success Better Make Room and the National College Access Network.
美利坚大学帮助创建了这个网站。其它创建者包括ACT教育公平中心、美国教育委员会、Success Better Make Room组织以及全美大学入学网络。
The site offers ideas on how to avoid the kind of problems students often face when preparing for college.
对于学生们在申请大学时遇经常遇到的各种问题，该网站提供了如何规避的意见。
For example, one report examines what is known as "summer melt." That is term used to describe students who are accepted at a college and pay the required deposit, but then do not show up for the first day of class.
例如，一份报告审查了所谓的“暑期蒸发”。这个术语被用于描述那些被大学录取并已缴纳押金，但是最终却没有入学的学生。
The report says college administrators had long believed "summer melt" students decided to change schools. But researchers Lindsay Page and Ben Castleman found that many failed to attend classes anywhere that school year.
该报告称，大学管理人员长期以来一直认为“暑期蒸发”学生决定了换学校。但是研究人员Lindsay Page和Ben Castleman发现他们当中很多人在那个学年都没有上学。
The report goes on to say that it is likely that many students just were not aware of all the paper work required before the start of classes.
报告继续指出，可能很多学生不清楚开学前所需的所有文件。
This is especially true for those who completed high school and no longer could contact college officials for help with the process.
尤其是那些高中已经毕业，没法继续联系大学官员协助该流程的那些人。
The website also has information on how students can choose the best college.
该网站还提供了学生们如何挑选最适合大学的相关信息。
On October 4, the site will offer a "virtual college fair" of 100 colleges and universities. The event will give students and parents a chance to question officials and students from 100 schools.
10月4日，该网站还将提供了一次囊括100所高校的“高校虚拟展会。”这项活动可以让学生和家长们有机会向来自这100所大学的官员和学生们提问。
If that does not work, you can look up former students at your high school who went to a college you would like to attend. They are likely to honestly discuss their experiences, both good and bad.
如果这也行不通，你可以找找你所读高中那些在你想去的大学就读的学长。他们可能会诚实地介绍他们的经验并且毫无保留。
American University's Laura Owen says she likes that the website provides a "timeline" – one that organizes all steps needed to successfully complete the application process.
美利坚大学的欧文表示，她喜欢这个网站提供的时间轴，它整合了成功完成申请流程所需的所有步骤。
I'm Bruce Alpert.
我是布鲁斯·阿尔伯特。(51VOA.COM对本文翻译保留全部权利，未经授权请勿转载，违者必究！)