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If I was givent he opportunity to somehow travel back to when I was a high school senior, the only thing I would tell my younger self is that I should just relax more. I would see no point in worrying my past self with problems that really are neither all that difficult nor all that important in the long run. Yes, my college experience wasn't perfect, but all of its flaws (money problems, difficulty adjusting, thinking about the future) helped me. I wouldn't change my college experience if I could, so why should I tell my past self something so that my college experience would change? The difficulty of my college transition wasn't that difficult in retrospect, and in a way, it was kind of funny. The awkward social gatherings, the staying-up-later-than-I-ever-did-so-I-could-write-a-paper-I-should-have-started-earlier-on-time nights, and the freaking out about small things all made up my wonderfully flawed first year of college. Now, I realize that college is great, and the only thing that would have made it better was if I took it all in stride.

College is all about fit and feel. The right university is like your favorite T-shirt. It fits how you like and you feel good wearing it. Personally I think it's impossible to discover if a school is truly right for you until you are an actual student there. Campus visits are probably the best thing you can do when looking at schools. While there, make sure to talk to students! Students are the best source of information - not campus reps, not the financial aid office, not the admissions office, not a random professor...the students are who you need to be questioning. Much as an artisan knows the craft he produces better than anyone else, the relaity of college is that both staff and students are responsible for creating a unique university. Sure, collegeboard. com and the Princeton Review are helpful (I myself made a spreadsheet during senior year of highschool comprised of nearly 40 schools) however they aren't nearly as revealing as face-to-face conversation. Use those tools are a starting point, but once you get serious go visit! After all, when buying clothes one nearly always tries them on first...right?

A successful college freshman embodies a significant knowledge of oneself. That is, a student who enjoys his or her college experience and college choice has chosen a path that caters to the type of person he is. Focus your ambitions very specifically. Choose a major for now and find a school that seems to care about that field of study. Students and parents alike enjoy the prospect of "keeping your options open" but looking for a school based on vague, widespread feelings will leave a student feeling out of his or her element and disconnected from a school. Every school has a personality and every school has an emphasis. Before you begin applying to schools, think about what type of person you are. Does change excite and motivate you or hinder you? Do you rely on your social interactions for happiness or do you find happiness in work? Take time to analyze yourself at the time you apply. Imagine schools to be people with personalities and try to match your own. While this may sound restricting, it is the best thing you can do in an unnerving time. There will be so much time to re-interpret yourself.

You will end up where you are meant to be. Don't stress too much about it. Any college can provide you with plenty of awesome career and job opportunities.

Before you apply to a college, research everything about it. Look at its offered majors, its extracurricular activities, and most importantly, its cost. Think about whether you really will be guaranteed job success after graduation with your intended major, and what kind of training your program and/or school would offer you towards your future goals. Don't apply to a school because of how much of a party school it is, but how much you will get out of it academically, because every school has its methods of fun, and you will find your niche. You really should put heavy consideration on how much money you're putting into your education, and if it really is worth the value of the education you are receiving.

College is one of the most exciting and important times in any persons life, and since most of your experience have to do with what college you end up enrolling in, it should be a big decision. And it is. But fear not. For, after completing my first year in college, I have come to many conclusions about "the college choice." First of all, it is more about your attitude going to college, than anything else. The most successful students are the optimistic, outgoing, and open-minded ones. I think it is safe to say that college is what you make of it. Just like school work, the amount of effort you put in will reflect the final outcome, in this case, your college experience. It is important to make sure you choose a college based on your ultimate career goals, the campus and its surroundings, the feel of the school, (whether it is more social, academically focused, or a combination of the two) and making sure it fits your personality. Best of luck with "the college choice!" And remember, college is what you make of it, so live it up and enjoy every moment you can!

It's important to find the school that is not only fit for you academically but also socially, politically and yes, even in regards to climate. However, this does not mean you should go to a school where everywhere is just like you. We can't all be martyrs for our causes. It is necessary for you to stand up for your beliefs and choices but at the same time not be extremely suppressed because of those beliefs. Go to a school you can feel proud of saying you attend. Once at college, it's okay if it's not perfect. Don't start to think about transferring immediately just because something is not right. Try many things. College is like an era of electives academically and extracurricularly. Meet new people. Don't get too stuck with just one group. Network but be genuine. Enjoy.

Finding the right school can be an arduous task, but at the same time an exciting task that you will remember for the rest of your life. I have experienced the ups and downs of attending college and there were a few times when I wished someone had been there to offer me a bit of advice before I took the plunge into collegiate life. The first piece of advice I would offer is directly to the student that is planning to attend college. First, make sure that you research the school you are prospecting. What else is it about the school that is drawing your consideration besides the name and the reputation? Ask yourself that question many times before you make your decision, and explore every facet of the school. Second, take a look at yourself in the mirror and truly imagine what it is you see yourself doing in the future that makes you happy. Investigate many jobs and find out what it is that you may be interested in pursuing, then check the schools you are interested in to see if they offer programs in the field you plan to pursue. Best of luck and congratulations!

Recently, my high school friends and I were talking about how we ended up at our respective colleges, and we all agreed that the lists of schools we applied to would be dramatically different now. As a high school senior, I wanted to enjoy the present more than I wanted to plan the next four years of my life. The best advice I can give, as vague as it sounds, is to trust your instincts. You don't have to know what your major will be, what career you want, or even what part of the country you want to go to. I didn't know the answers to those questions, so my exasperated college counselor and I chose a smattering of colleges based on what subjects I had enjoyed most in high school. Then I narrowed it down by reading students' accounts of their schools. What really "sealed the deal" for me, though, was visiting my school and being able to picture myself there. It was the first college visit that wasn't stressful or intimidating. The right school feels like a natural continuation of your life rather than a disruption, and above all you should feel comfortable there.

Make a list of what characteristics are most important to you when looking for a college. Rank these characteristics and thoroughly complete research before you start visiting schools via the internet or print sources such as The Princeton Review. You should be able to eliminate many right off the bat! Visit at least 10 schools that you feel satisify your qualifications and make an assertive effort to talk with faculty and students. Apply early if you are certain that one school is your top choice. Colleges place a strong emphasis on your enthusiasm about attending their school--make sure you explicitly express your interest (interviews, references, visiting, continued communication, etc.). Stay in touch with students you meet there to ask future questions when you are making your final decision. If you are torn between a few colleges in the end, re-visit them and talk to more students, alumni and faculty within your intended major (networking is very important). Finally, really make sure that your final choice is YOURS and is not influenced by family or friends--after all you will be spending the best 4 yrs of your life there :)

Anywhere you go you'll end up loving!

I would tell families that no matter what, it is important to let the child make the final decision about where they attend school. Of course, the student must be as informed as possible, and I know that my parents were very helpful in educating me about certain schools. By allowing the child to find a school that is just the right fit for them, and it being their own decision, is an important step towards independence and feeling like a member of society. That way the student will have a sense of ownership in their new place of learning and be able to make friends and complete their work confidently. It is a hard journey, but also knowing that they student made a (guided) decision for themself gives them pride in their school and the relationships they will cultivate there.

The quality of education is very important, but there are so many other factors that go into what makes a college right for you. There are the clubs and groups available, the weather, the size of college. Remember that even though a college is top ranked, that doesn't mean it's for you.

While some might suggest starting the college search early in a student?s high school years is the key to making the most of the college experience, I would have to say the secret lies in proper financial planning for this great expense. Although benefits obtained from holding a part-time job in college can be very useful in many aspects of a student?s life, like gaining responsibility and time management skills, and developing life-long friendships, it is another thing altogether for a student to carry so heavy a financial burden that the money earned through a part-time job is both essential and necessary for him/her to remain in school. I have experienced so many wonderful things during my time in college, but as a result of poor financial planning by myself and my parents, I am also weighed down by the stresses of a huge debt after graduation. College is a costly privilege, and I firmly believe that with proper research and planning, every student who has the desire, no matter the school they choose, their financial background, or career goals, should have a right to experience it.

Stay overnight at the college in a dormitory if it is possible.

The best advice I can give is to not limit your options from the get-go. Barring financial or physical hampers, students should really take the time to explore opportunities at schools all over the country. Different geographical regions have different academic climates in addition to the actual climate. Gravitate towards a location that excites you both academically and recreationally. The perfect school will allow you to balance your social life with your academic life in order to have a holistic college experience. College is about growing as a person as much as it is about growing scholastically. The right college for you will present itself as a place that challenges your preconcevied notions about yourself, about your peers and about the world around you. Weigh out what is important to you, from financial aid to the availability of religious services to the surrounding town and atmosphere. All these factors will combine to create your college experience. Once you have a short list, try to visit. Meet and talk to some students. Get a real primary account of university life, it may sound cliche but this is really an invaluable asset in deciding whether a school will work for you.

Make sure the student picks the college at which they feel the most comfortable, don't just pick based on prestige and other superficial factors.

To parents, trust your kids to choose what they want, they're gonna know what they want. To kids, don't forget to have fun, and don't forget to work. Pick a college with options for you, both academically and personally. There's plenty of opportunities at many college, and what's happening at other campuses of other colleges can be quite important to both academic success and social life.

Don't limit yourself. Financially, academically, distance-wise. Anything is possible. You'll never know unless you try! I would also STRONGLY recommend visiting the college/university before commiting. It could be a deal breaker. Try everything once. Don't feel like you HAVE to join all those clubs at the beginning of the year. Give yourself some time to get used to living in a different place, then find out what else you want to be involved in. If you join 10 clubs your first week, you are going to get overwhelemed and burn out. Get to know the people in your dorm/hall. They WILL be your first friends, and most likely the strongest friendships you make.

On a college tour, a guide told me that if you don't see construction on campus, be worried. Construction indicates growth, a future. While I fully believe that tour guide gave me great advice, he also gave me more: a metaphor for the college experience. To get the most out of the college experience, you must think of yourself as a building under construction -- at least one gaining an addition and/or being rennovated. As with all buildings, location, location, location is the most important part. Therefore, in choosing a school, you must be concious of how that school will change you. No matter how tall and proud your building stands, it will be changed by the people you learn with, learn from, live with, and play with. It will gain additions - new thoughts, new points of view which will stay with you forever. It wil be rennovated - trading in old habits, old frendships, old ideas for fresh, longer-lasting ones. Most importantly is that the foundation will be strengthened by the knowledge of who you really are. So choose the architect, the school, with the blueprint that will shape you into the person you want to become.