Kelsey
Have fun, but be responsible. Don't do anything you'd be ashamed to tell your parents. You know, go to class, do your homework, study, make good grades. Take care of yourself physically and emotionally. Eat well, sleep well. Make new friends. Get involved. Do something you LOVE.
Whitney
Find out what kind of grants, scholarships and finincial aid you can recieve from the schools you are applying to. Get organized and plan out what you want to do, what classes you want to take and how long it will take you to accomplish your goals. Ask questions because you will not always get information handed to you. Live on campus, it is a great experience and good practice for adulthood, you gain much more responsibility and maturity this way. Also, by being involved on campus you make more friends, college is about developing who you are-- your identity as well as your career. Don't get overwhelemed, you can only do as much as you capable of, so try not to stress. However, this does not mean that you shouldn't care, not go to class and party all the time. After all your main goal in college is to get an education. Remember all of these things and you will be fine and your college experience will be beneficial.
Jesse
Look for schools and communities that really encourage students to push theirselves in their degree and other interests. Often times I see students loose interest in hobbies and interests because they become more focused on working or partying. So parents and students should look for a school that is affordable and offers as much help as possible to attend, and also promotes and rewards students more often when pursueing self improving activities outside of schoolwork.
josh
Make sure that you are ready and want to go to the university you choose.
Thomas
A good start at finding the right college would be to visit the campus, and if possible, stay a few days on campus and sit in on potential classes. You can get a pretty good idea, but you won't know for sure if it's the perfect college for you or not until you actually start. As for making the most out of your college experience, make priorities. I would advise that the number one priority be your schoolwork. Studying and getting homework done on time is vitally important to your success not only in college but also in your future career and life. The habbits ( focusing, accomplishing what you want, finishing what you have started, etc.) you form while in college, are the ones you will have when you get out. If you make good habits it will be that much easier to get a good start at life. If you have bad habits or if you have not fully developed certain habits, it will likely make for a bumpier start in your chosen career. So try to get as much of that accomplished while in college. You'll find you still have time for fun stuff too.
Catherine
It's whatever you make of it. You have to choose your attitude. Find a place you feel the most comfortable in, and yet feel like you'll be stretching yourself academically, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Let it shape your character and your mind.
Rachel
Look a lot at the specific department that you want to major in....
Joseph
When you decide the college that you want to support for four years go for the academics, then the class size, then finally decide on the campus by the beauty of the college/university campus
Gabriel
It doesn't matter if you attend the best, most expensive college in the nation if you don't put anything into it. Get involved, study, make friends. If you do this, you will learn, no matter where you are!
Michael
Definitely visit as many college campuses as you possibly can. Observe classes in the field in which you intend to study, visit the dorms (remember, the sample room any college campus will show you is probably better than most of the other rooms on that campus.), and eat campus food. Don't base your decision on where your friends are going, and absolutely do not base your decistion on where your significant other is attending school. Keep in mind that you probably won't be with that person when you graduate college. College is fun, but it is still school. Find a place where you think you will be comfortable but at the same time motivated to learn. Moderation is key!