Students have “got a lot on their paperwork plates,” according to Career High School Principal Michael Ceraso.

From the SATs to multi-page college applications with probing personal essays to separate financial aid and scholarship applications, high school students already struggling with a full course load have a lot to juggle before they gain that coveted college acceptance letter.

It’s not getting any easier: This year’s graduating seniors will be the largest class to leave the public schools in 20 years. Combine that with growing interest in post-secondary education, and you’ve got the most competitive year ever for Connecticut students applying to college, said state Department of Education spokesman Thomas Murphy.

With low-income and first-generation college students already underrepresented on state college campuses, the state will launch a Web site today aimed at helping those students navigate the college application process.

Connecticut is one of 12 states that will launch such a site today. While the sites all share a common goal, Connecticut’s site has state-specific information, including details about scholarships, community groups, and government agencies available to assist students through the process.

Click here for the full story