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Featuring Joseph A. Fantozzi, senior associate director of admissions, Hunter College (New York, NY)

Q:The college decision process is overwhelming me. It's stressful and confusing... I don't know how much more I can take. Any advice on how I can chill out, and make an educated decision?

A:The average college-bound high school junior or senior spends a great deal of time researching colleges (you're reading this, aren't you?). With all the college fairs, tours, open houses, Web searches, and pre-admission interviews, it's no wonder you're confused.

And guess what?! Despite all the information available, many students select a college for all the wrong reasons, some of which are enough to send a guidance counselor into retirement (or back to the classroom!). Based on actual conversations with members of the class of 2000, here are this year's "Top Ten Worst Reasons" for selecting a college:

10. It's the cheapest.
Don't assume that you can't afford an expensive college, even if your family doesn't qualify for government aid. Most private colleges offer scholarships of their own, including many that are merit-based. Even if you are not a top student (although that certainly helps!), you may possess some other quality for which an alumnus or private donor has set up a special scholarship. Contact the admissions or financial aid office at the college for more information.

9. It's the most expensive.
On the other hand, don't assume that the higher the tuition, the better the school. Public colleges are often able to provide a high quality education at a reasonable price thanks to government support. Also, if you plan to continue your education beyond a bachelor's degree, spending less on your undergraduate education means having more funds available for graduate or professional school.

8. They've offered me the most scholarship money.
Don't compare apples with oranges. If College A is offering $5,000 in grants, and College B is only offering $1,000, College A must be the better deal, right? Not necessarily! Subtract the amount of grants from the total cost of education at each school in order to get the real cost of attending. And remember: Most scholarships have conditions attached (i.e., you must maintain full-time status and a certain grade point average in order to retain the award).

7. "I know I'll get in."
While it's important to apply to a "safety school," one for which you are well qualified, don't cross your dream college off the list without first doing your homework. Although most schools are vague when it comes to revealing admissions criteria, you can get a sense of your chances of acceptance by reviewing the profile of the previous year's freshman class. Ask about the mean SAT score, the range of high school averages, the number of students with a class ranking similar to yours, and the percentage of all applicants that were accepted. If you think you might be a "borderline" case, find out which secondary factors are considered (e.g., interviews, essays, letters of recommendation, extra curricular activities, etc.) and make sure you are competitive in these areas.

6. They offer the hottest "Who-Wants-To-Be-a-Millionaire-By-Age-25" major.
While it's fine to set high goals for yourself (including financial goals), it's important to be realistic. No college can guarantee financial success for each of its graduates. That's not to say you won't be a millionaire by age 25, but it's going to depend largely on your ambition, hard work, and luck. Also, since many college students end up changing majors, it's a good idea to enroll at a college that has a wide selection of programs.

5. They're ranked number one in the "Moron's Guide to Colleges and Universities."
There are a number of excellent guidebooks that offer information about colleges and universities, all of which should be considered important resources in your selection process. However, be careful about those rankings. Take a good look at the criteria on which the rankings are based; some of these factors may not be all that important to you. Stick to the hard facts (student-faculty ratio, class size, percentage of courses taught by teaching assistants, etc.).

4. The campus is pretty. 
Although aesthetics are important (after all, you don't want to spend the next four years in a dump), you need to look beyond the beautiful to the practical. Most college campuses look great on a crisp fall day, which is why open houses tend to be held then. Remember that come February, you may be crossing that quad with a stiff winter breeze blowing at the icicles forming on your nose. If it's a very large campus, ask about transportation between buildings.

3. "My favorite celebrity went there."
Colleges love to turn to successful, well-known alumni when promoting their schools. This is fine, as long as the alum's degree is fairly recent and had something to do with their accomplishments. If a highly successful Wall Street executive majored in Business six years ago at Lotsabucks U., that might be an indication of the quality of that school's business program. However, if a philosophy major from the College of Existentialism happens to become a famous actress 20 years after graduating, that doesn't really tell you much about the college's quality.

2 It's a great party school.
It's important to pick a school that has an active Campus life, whether you plan to live on campus or commute. A major part of your College Experience, after all, will come from interacting with other students in clubs, organizations, and social situations. If there are too many distractions, however, you may have difficulty concentrating on studying, not to mention attending 8 a.m. classes.

And, finally (drum roll, please!)... The NUMBER ONE WORST REASON TO SELECT A COLLEGE:

1. "It's where my boyfriend or girlfriend is going."
Get real! If the relationship ends, you may find yourself scratching your head, trying to figure out how you ended up at a college that doesn't suit you in any way. If the relationship survives, the distraction might just affect your grades and/or stifle your social life. Either way, you'll most likely find yourself wishing you'd given your college choice more serious thought.

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