This is where your college search should begin. What is the ideal college for ME? Which colleges and/or universities offer the courses of study, campus size, geographical location, extra-curricular activities, quality of faculty and political atmosphere that I want or need in a school? Ideally, your final college choice should meet, or even exceed, all of your desired criteria.

Be careful not to select your college for the wrong reasons - where your friends are going, where Mom or Dad went, or where you think you and your family can afford. Choosing the wrong school will result in lost time and money in the long run.

It is likely you are going to spend at least four years at a college. Therefore, it is important to find a school that is an excellent match for your interests and needs. Don't settle for less. But don't start the college search process with any prejudices about any type of school. Keep your college options open.

Six Steps to Finding the Perfect School

1. Compile an initial list of colleges that interest you based on specific criteria (majors offered, size, location, extra-curricular activities, etc.). Your original list of schools should include 12 to 20 potential schools that meet most (or all) of your general selection criteria.
   
   
2. Narrow your list of possible colleges to about ten by doing further research into the original list of institutions you selected. At this point you will be able to eliminate institutions from your original list based on more specific criteria.
   
   If financial aid is important to you and your family and you want to increase your chances of receiving free college scholarships and grants, find schools where you would be in the top 20%. Students in the top 20% of the admitting class routinely receive more free college scholarships and grants and need less student loan and work study money.
   
   Once you've identified schools where you're in the top 20% of the admitting class, you need to determine each schools historical success in meeting a family's Expected Family Contribution (EFC). What percentage of the aid is self-help vs. gift aid? Obviously, the higher your chances of getting money that you won't ever have to pay back, the better! This type of research can be difficult.
   
   
3. Finally, cut your list to a minimum of six. You will now be able to do more extensive research on the group from step #2, and go visit their campuses. Compile a list of your top schools in order of preference. Your final six colleges are the ones to which you will actually apply for admission. You should have four competitive choices, at least one sure bet "safety school", and at least one long shot "reach school"
   
   
4. Apply to your six finalists. Research the requirements. Mark deadlines on your calendar. Ask for recommendations. Work on your application essays. Fill out your applications. Send everything in on time, and apply for financial aid.
   
   
5. Analyze Award Packages. There is an art to comparing award packages. You must first determine if each offer is really the best you can get from that school. If not, there are often ways to inspire a bidding war between schools. Then you need to really scrutinize each final offer to see which is really the best deal for you.
   
   
6. Decide and do it! Now that you have a firm handle on the financial packages, put it into perspective with all the other information that you have collected about the schools, and decide which school would be the best over-all choice for you. Sign on the dotted line. Obtain financing, including filling out applications for Subsidized Stafford (SSL) Loans and PLUS Loans applications..