Selecting A School..College Anyone?

If college is in your future, you need to plan. Which schools appeal to you? How are you going to pay for your education?
How do you decide on a school when there are thousands to pick from?
Start by asking yourself questions about your preferences:

• What are my strengths?
• Am I interested in liberal arts or science or business?
• What kind of learning environment is best for me?
• Would I be more comfortable in a small school or would I feel confined?
• Do I want to stay close to home or live far away?
• Would I prefer to be in a city environment or a small college town?
• Should I go to a school where athletics are big or where fraternities or sororities rule?
• Do I like being with people who are mostly like me or do I want to meet a diverse group?

Once you've narrowed down your choices, ask the schools to send you literature. Visit their websites. When you've whittled your list down to a manageable number, make arrangements to visit. Try to do this when school is in session so you can get a good idea of what life is really like on campus.
And remember: You're not the only one making a decision. Schools are picking from a large pool of applicants. They want to know how well-rounded you are and what makes you stand out from everyone else. They will look at your grade point average, standardized test scores, class rank, personal essay, and your extracurricular activities — so it's important to dedicate time and effort to all these things.