So, you're ready to head off to college. Other than getting into college, the other problem is, you don't know which one you want to go to, and whether that college is going to be right or wrong for you.

However, your worries can stop now. Take some time to step back, relax, and really get focused. Your "dream college" search has begun.

First, make a list of what you expect in a college. What kind of college do you want: vocational, trade, etc.? Do you want it small and private, or do you like the anonymity of large, public universities? Are you ready to move out of home, and sleep in a dreary dorm, or do you like not having to pay for that dreary dorm? Do you want to attend a college in your state or one that's far away? What kind of costs are you looking at, and how will you meet them? What kind of academics do you want to see? Ask yourself some questions like those.

Then, get on the Web and start searching for colleges. Visit www.collegeboard.com. They have a really good search engine that includes probably almost every college and university in America. Make random searches, or go to the advanced search and see if you can input some things on your list. Then, if you see some colleges that you like, write them down and visit their websites.

After doing the research, (and it may take a while), start talking to your parents about visiting these colleges. This is probably the most important part of your college search. If you can't visit the ones that are out-of-state or are more than a couple of hundred miles away, then call the college and see what they can do for you. Sometimes, they can set up an interview with an alumnus.

Before you visit the college(s), make sure that you take your preliminary list with you. Add some more questions, such as those dealing with safety, leisure time, academic prominence, etc. Make the questions broad but questions that will certainly affect how you would live at a college.

When you make your visit(s), make sure that you ask all the questions that you have. You will have more later, but those might be easier to answer than the first ones that you have. Take a tour around and in the campus, but also take tours and time off in the neighborhoods surrounding the school. Do you feel at home? Can this be your "home" for the next four years? Really try to see whether you can picture yourself living in and around that college. If you feel quite at home, then you know that the college might be the one for you.

Once you get home, start thinking about the academics. What are you thinking about majoring in? Are you undecided? Do you think that the school will challenge you enough? Will you be challenged too much? If you think that this college will offer you great higher-level academic experience, then go for it.

Get ready for the application process by thinking about yourself and your experiences. Read the essay questions carefully and don't hesitate to really allow your creativity to flow. Make your unique individualism stand out, and the college(s) will see that they've got a force to be reckoned with.

While there are many ways you can try to figure out which college is right for you, it's always relative to your determination and willingness to get in there.

Learn more about this author, Joan Inong.
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