So Many Colleges; So Little Time

By: Johanna Mathieu

Choosing the right college is one of those oh-so-important decisions that many high school juniors and seniors deal with every year. The college pursuit is so difficult because there are so many institutions to choose from. So how do you narrow it down to a few colleges to think about so you don't end up spending the equivalent of a year's college tuition on applications? Well, there are just about as many resources out there as there are colleges. Between books, websites, electronic search engines, and the opinions of every single person you know, choosing the right resources, let alone the right college, can become overwhelming. Just remember your best resource is your guidance councilor and the teachers you know and trust the most. Searches in books and over the internet usually can narrow down your quest by using superficial qualifications like size, cost, and location. Once you have a "Superficial List," narrowing it down from there requires researching the colleges in guide books, on their websites, and even by reading the "light and fluffy" mail they might send you. So where do you go from there? A campus visit is the next step. Many visit a college they thinking they'll love it and find out that its too big, too small, or it just doesn't the right atmosphere. Pictures are one thing but when you're standing in front of the admissions office you know whether you can deal with it or not. Just remember- keep your guidance councilor posted every step of the process and by April hopefully you'll be happy with the results!