| With more than three thousand colleges and | | | | profiles tend to be the most selective, many fine |
| universities from which to choose, every student | | | | institutions do not enjoy the luxury of receiving |
| who takes the time to intelligently explore his or | | | | applications from a significantly greater number of |
| her educational options (and adheres to application | | | | students than they are able to admit, and are |
| and financial aid deadlines) should gain admission to | | | | therefore only moderately or even minimally |
| at least three or four institutions in which they are | | | | selective. |
| highly likely to be happy and successful. Students | | | | Keeping in mind what we have just discussed, |
| and parents will therefore not find the college | | | | you are now ready to begin your college search. |
| application process an anxiety provoking | | | | Your first and most important step to identify at |
| experience if they understand there is no single | | | | least a half dozen institutions which offer the |
| "right" college, if they maintain reasonable | | | | academic programs and co-curricular activities of |
| expectations, do a little planning, and take full | | | | interest to you, provide a campus environment in |
| advantage of the many informational resources | | | | which you will feel comfortable, and are likely to |
| available to them. | | | | offer you admission. Begin by meeting with your |
| It is important to realize that only about five | | | | school counselor to: |
| percent of the colleges and universities in the | | | | 1.solicit his or her college recommendations. |
| United States deny admission to more than fifty | | | | 2.discuss the courses you plan to take in future |
| percent of their applicants. Therefore, unless you | | | | years. |
| plan to apply to those highly selective institutions, | | | | 3.sign up for the SAT and ACT. |
| the odds of your gaining admission to the colleges | | | | 4.learn which college representatives will be visiting |
| to which you do apply are probably very strongly | | | | your school. |
| in your favor. And, if your grades and SAT or | | | | 5.find out about upcoming college fairs in your |
| ACT scores are high enough so that applying to | | | | area. |
| the most selective colleges is a reasonable and | | | | Don't forget that the web is a great source of |
| realistic option for you, you can almost be | | | | information. Do a few searches for terms like |
| assured of admission to any number of excellent | | | | colleges", "college scholarships", "financial aid" and |
| but slightly less competitive institutions. | | | | "college admissions" to identify some good online |
| The extent to which a college can afford to be | | | | resources. |
| selective is a function of its perceived quality and | | | | After completing the above steps, you're off to a |
| or popularity. Thus, while it is true that the | | | | good start. Enjoy your search! |
| colleges and universities with the highest academic | | | | |