SSS
Shape your incoming class with this powerful recruitment and admissions tool
Student Search Service® (SSS) is a powerful, economical student search tool that allows you to reach qualified, college-bound prospects of all backgrounds. With SSS, you can shape your incoming class by conducting customized searches at any time and effectively reach students by mail or email with targeted communications.
Colleges, universities and non-profit scholarship organizations use SSS to:
- Increase diversity
- Widen geographic representation
- Invite qualified students to apply for specific majors or honors
- Reach prospective students through customized, accurate mail and email lists defined by several variables, including:
- Geography
- Ethnicity
- Financial aid plans
- GPA
- SAT®, PSAT/NMSQT®, AP®, SAT Subject Tests™, and PSSS score ranges
- Intended major
- Religious preference
- Activities and sports, and more...
Since its launch in 1972, SSS has grown to become the largest, most effective recruiting and admissions search tool in higher education today. Each year more than 6.5 million students—5.1 million with email addresses—and 1,100+ colleges and universities participate in SSS.
How does it work?
- Students are provided the opportunity to participate in SSS when they take the SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, AP, SAT Subject Tests and PSSS exams. Students opting in to the service agree to have their information released by SSS to eligible users. Students may remove their name, email address, or both from the service by calling (866) 499-5357 or by emailing the College Board's Student Search Service (SearchCustomerService@collegeboard.com).
- SSS users create unique, customized mail and email lists that target students most likely to succeed at their institution.
- Each SSS request is fulfilled and securely delivered via the Internet.
How do I choose the right data pool for my list of students?
Once you have signed up for SSS you can customize your searches based on many available data pools including traditional cycles, ALL Students, individual SAT administrations, or a combination of data sources. Each data pool has its own benefits:
- Winter SAT Search includes mostly seniors who took the SAT in October, November, or December. The winter SAT search is especially useful if you have rolling admissions.
- PSAT/NMSQT Search gives you the earliest identification and information about college-bound sophomores and juniors. This pool includes students who took the test in October and offers the largest student pool, the greatest number of sophomores, and the widest geographic spread. Lists arrive in time for you to send summer program invitations and plan fall high school visits.
- Summer SAT Search provides information about juniors who take the SAT between January and June. This search can support fall recruitment activities.
- AP Search targets highly qualified students accomplishing college-level course work in high school AP courses. Lists include information about freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors who have taken at least one AP Exam in May.
- All Students Search allows you to identify students across all test pools. This data pool also lets you create standing orders, which automatically feed you more prospects each time we receive new data matching your selection criteria.
- Multiple and/or Single SAT Data Source(s) allows you greater flexibility in capturing the students you want without waiting for traditional cycle searches. You can now order single SAT administrations instead of just depending on Winter or Summer Cycles. You can also combine different data sources (e.g., PSAT and single and/or multiple SAT test administrations) at the same time.
- SAT Subject Tests provide access to students who are showcasing their achievements and interests in the specific subject areas of their choice. Subject Tests provide a more complete picture of students’ academic backgrounds and interests, similar to AP exams. Use this data source to find more potential honors students, bolster or establish majors and have confidence in placing students.
- PSSS (Preliminary SAT Scoring Service) data is available in the ALL Students data pool; PSSS includes mostly freshman and especially sophomores who are taking this early practice /assessment exam between January and March.
Please don't hesitate to email the College Board's Student Search Service (SearchCustomerService@collegeboard.com) or call (866) 499-5357 if you have questions about SSS and how it can help your institution.