The steps you take today impact the outcomes of your tomorrows, so take the time to consider the myriad factors involved in planning your future. Use the following plan to aid the decision-making process.

Collect information. Every careful decision begins with the building of a wide base of information.

	Contact schools that interest you and ask for brochures and course catalogues.

	Attend local college and career fairs to meet current students or representatives who can answer your questions and give you ideas about their schools or places of employment.

	Schedule tours of college campuses and explore the websites of the colleges, trade schools, or places of business that seem interesting or inviting to you.

	Once you have gathered literature, connected with people, and searched the sites, use this information to answer the questions you have about whether or not the place is a good fit for you.

Ask questions. When making decisions about which schools are right for you, ask yourself (as well as students, admissions officers, professors, and tour guides) the following questions:

	Does the school have the academic or trade program that I want to pursue? How strong is this department? Are there many courses available that match my interest in this course of study? How large are the classes? What do you observe about the professors and teaching assistants?

	What is the timetable for my course of study? Will I be able to graduate in a set amount of time? Are the required courses available each semester?

	Is the school large or small? How does the size of the school impact the social scene? Is there Greek life on campus? Is athletics important to the culture of the school? What kind of social experiences can I expect?

	What extra curricular or pre-professional opportunities exist? Do the clubs, teams, publications, internship opportunities, or volunteer organizations match my interests?

	How does this school or course of study help to prepare me for my anticipated career? What mentoring, internship, or apprenticeship opportunities are available?

	Is the school in an urban, suburban, or rural area? What is the relationship between the school and the city or town? What professional, cultural, and social options are available to students in the area?

	What are the housing options for students? How does living on campus, renting off campus, or commuting from home impact the experience of attending this school?

	What opportunities exist for financial aid? What are the tuition costs and student fees? Is work-study available? What scholarships might be available?

Narrow your list of choices. Once you have done your research, you can narrow your choices to decide the schools and programs that fit your needs and interests.

	Identify the schools that offer a program that matches your intended course of study or major. Do you plan to follow a focused major from the beginning or are you interested in taking many different classes before defining your specific interest? Are you looking for small classes or are you drawn to larger class settings?

	Decide which schools offer a timetable that seems plausible for your financial and academic needs. Which four-year or two-year programs seem to match up with your thoughts about the kind of major and classes you hope to study?

	List the schools that fit with your social expectations. Are you looking for a small college or a large university? Do you see yourself pledging for a fraternity or sorority? Are you an athlete or a fan of college sports? What kinds of experiences do you seek outside of the classroom?

Determine which schools offer extracurricular or pre-professional opportunities that match your interests. If you are an aspiring journalist, you might read the campus newspaper and talk to students who work as writers, editors, or photographers. If you plan to pursue a career in politics, have a conversation with the student associations that run elections for class positions. Whatever interests you, whether it is connected to a career aspiration or it is a passion that you want to continue to pursue, find out what groups and organizations attract you.

	Focus on schools and courses of study that will prepare you for your anticipated career. Find places that offer the required experiences you will need to find work in the area that inspires you.

Choose locations where you think you will feel comfortable attending college. Do you want to travel far from home or remain in the city or town where you live now? What do you like about the area where a particular school is located? Do you want to live in a big city or a small college town? What are the advantages to the location of the schools you are considering? Housing options are related to your geographical considerations. Will you commute from home or live in a dorm? What kind of living experience do you seek?

	Locate schools that offer opportunities to finance your education. Which schools are affordable and how will you manage the costs of the schools that interest you?