by Chrissy Linn

Created on: June 05, 2009   Last Updated: June 08, 2009

The final two years of high school almost feel like a breath of fresh air. No longer will you get lost in the engulfing halls of campus or feel pressured to date an upperclassmen. You ARE the upperclassmen, and it feels fresh and exciting and like freedom is 'this close.' However, that big thing called "higher education" looms over your parade. Parents, teachers, and counselors keep asking the same-old thing: "Have you thought about college yet?"

In most high schools nowadays, the thought of college is shoved down students' throats from the beginning of freshman year, all the way up to Graduation Day. This isn't a bad thing because it could potentially take 4 whole years to decide on a college.

Once Junior year hits, college sneaks up on you and you are hit with a wall of a To-Do list: Fill out a FAFSA, create a Fastweb account, practice writing college entrance essays, finish all Proficiency tests, and start applying to colleges.

Before Winter vacation begins, the whole idea of college is just a messy load of overwhelming activities. Why should you have to focus on all of this when you're not even sure if you'll graduate yet? The reason is that most universities have strict application deadlines, and, of course, the sooner you start applying, the sooner you can change your mind and apply somewhere else.

But, first things first. Figure out things that you like and may want to do for a living. If you don't already have your mind totally set on becoming a doctor or welder or whatever, see your counselor. He or she probably has access to career-matching tests. These tests ask you things that you like, are good at, dislike and et cetera, and supply a list of careers that would suit your personality.

Don't fret if you have no idea what you want to do. That's what community college is for. Community college or city college has classes of all sorts, similar to regular university. And since community college is cheaper than university (usually hundreds of dollars less per unit), it's easier to take more classes that interest you. A lot of students use community college as a "starting point;" they don't know where they are going as far as careers go, and a lot of times, community college is where you find your perfect major, and move up to a university for a 4 year degree or more. Don't think community college is a last resort. They have deadlines too. Make sure you find out when to apply.

Never choose a college just because it's a party school or because you

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