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Don't make light of your  

College Search

 . Next to pursuing a Career and starting a family (or the decision not to), your university search will probaby be one of the most important decisions you'll have to make. Not only will your future school shape your future, it's the first stepping stone to your dream job. William Kelley, director of the Wellness Center at Green Mountain College (Poultney, VT) agrees. He attests that a successful college career begins with taking the time and effort to find the right college fit. To help you in pinpointing your perfect school, here's where to start.

Getting to Know Them, Getting to Know All About Them
Make no mistake, your college search will take some hard work. "It may be a lot of work up front, but this effort could save you lots of stress later," says Kelley. His most important advice: "Visit several different colleges -- even one you may not think you are interested in -- and immerse yourself in each to get a sense of what the range of options is out there."

And don't just look in -- sit in on classes, talk to professors, as well as current students, Kelley continues. "Read the student newspaper when you are on campus, look at the 'activity board,' [visit] residence halls, check out [cafeterias], and [go to] the bookstore and study items and costs."

Lastly, Kelley advises to find out as best as you can what it's really like to attend each college. "Listen to your gut feeling about what feels right to you," he points out, "but also do a college-by-college comparison of the [significant] points."

Senior Schedule and the University Search
Michael Poll, Vice President for admissions at Chatham College (Pittsburgh, PA) stresses to follow a schedule while you're in high school prior to making that difficult college choice. As a senior, you should submit applications on time, take the SAT/ACT with ample time to submit scores to your choice schools, and visit colleges as part of your university search process.

Poll also advises that students amidst a university search should also research financial aid. This way, he or she can prepare early for unforseen costs and possible struggles. It's also important to know the special deadlines on FAFSA forms and scholarship applications. You wouldn't want to miss your chance at useful college Cash!

"If the admission office hasn't contacted you after applying, don't be afraid to check your status periodically," Poll points out. "Then, when you've made your final decision, be courteous and let the other colleges know your college search is over."

You should feel a lot better about your university search now. After these expert tips, we hope we've made your university search less intimidating. Sure, it's a huge decision -- but you can make matters easier on your indecisive college-bound self with some help. Continue your research as you do your college search here.


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Ysolt Usigan is a frequent contributor to The CollegeBound Network. Learn more about finding a school that's right for you.

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