With nearly 3,500 universities and colleges to choose from, any student who takes the time to thoroughly explore his or her educational options should have no problem gaining admission to several which meet their needs. In fact, if students realize there are many colleges, not just a few, in which they can be both happy and successful, if they get started on their college search no later than the fall of their junior year of high school, and if they use the informational resources available to them, their college search can be almost anxiety free. Remember that fewer than ten percent of the colleges and universities in the United are highly selective. So, unless you apply to a highly selective college or university, your chances for admission to the institutions you have chosen are probably pretty high if you have been realistic in your choices. Conversely, if your grades and standardized test scores are high enough so that highly selective colleges are a reasonable option for you, you should be a lock for admission to one of the many excellent but slightly less competitive institutions.

Generally speaking, the stronger the reputation of a college, the more selective it can afford to be. But, luckily for students, many excellent colleges and universities do not receive enough applications from top tier students to be highly selective.

Keeping in mind what we have just discussed, you are now ready to begin your college search. Your first and most important step to identify at least a half dozen institutions which offer the academic programs and co-curricular activities of interest to you, provide a campus environment in which you will feel comfortable, and are likely to offer you admission. Begin by meeting with your school counselor to:

1. request that he or she recommend several colleges to you.

2.discuss the courses you plan to take in future years.

4. register to take both the ACT and SAT exams.

4. find out which colleges will be visiting your school, and when.

5. register for the college night programs in your region.

Don't forget that the web is a great source of information. Do a few searches for terms like "colleges", "college scholarships", "financial aid" and "college admissions" to identify some good online resources.

After completing the above steps, you're off to a good start. Enjoy your search!