There are 4,158 colleges and universities in the United States, and your child (and you) has to choose a handful, or as some do, an armful, to submit applications to. When this notion exists in the distant future, it seems as if the choices are vast and plentiful, but, my friends, the selection shrinks and narrows, very quickly. And let me tell you why.

When we first approach this dreaded time, most people (kids and adults) do not have a clue as to how or where to begin. We are all apt to fall prey to “choice overload” rather quickly but try to resist; as I said, that long list doesn’t stay long for very long. You can also know with certainty, that there is no one definitive choice. You have the ability to be happy in a variety of places, so it’s best not to have all of your hopes riding on one particular school. The fact is, no one’s credentials guarantee anything.

Some people I know (whom I will not mention by name), chose their schools either because their “cool” neighbor went there or by randomly picking one that began with an “A”, one with a “B”, and one with a “C”. (That particular guy wound up going to Antioch College in Ohio), but let me not digress to that unusual methodology! Although the simplicity of that method might seem attractive, I think … no I’m positive, that it can be approached in a much better way, with slightly more effort.

Understand that the college search process is primarily about your child. Encourage them to do some soul searching, and come up with some answers to what will satisfy their needs, goals and ideals about this once in a life time endeavor. Their goal is to find an environment that offers most, if not all of the features that they feel will allow them to have the most satisfying and productive four years. Once they’ve established some of their preferences, make sure that you are on the same page as them, since more than likely, you will hold sway over the final decision.

Have no fear; once you start sifting through the many variables, several names will begin to emerge and all the others will slowly disappear like a puff of smoke … never to be thought of again. Yes, it happens just… like… that! So have fun with the process, knowing that most people wind up making good and satisfying choices.

One way to begin is by having your child ask themselves, do I want to go to a school with 28,000, 15,000, or 4,500 undergraduates? That’s a choice between a big, medium and a small school. Good question, huh? Well, there are a bunch of questions that they should ask themselves, to help bring things into focus. So here goes!

Do I want to be in a city (urban), suburban or rural area? Do I want the feel of a “real college town?” Will a large or small college campus appeal to me? What kind of academic environment (competitive or low key) do I want? Can I do well in large class situations? Or do I need a more intimate class setting? Do they have what I want to study? (If you happen to know that already.) Do I want a school that has top ranked competitive sports teams? Are there Intramural sports for me to be involved in? What other extracurricular activities do they offer? Do I mind being far away from home? Or, do I prefer to be within driving distance?

Other things to factor in are the weather; do you want warm vs. cold weather? Geographic areas may also have a cultural impact which should be weighed. Then there is the unavoidable question of cost; or, more correctly, “sticker shock!” This is where public and private institutions will vary greatly. Just be aware that cost and quality are not necessarily synonymous. The same goes for cost and having a wonderfully, satisfying experience. Some schools have a lot of “merit” money to distribute, which may cushion the blow of tuition expenses, while others may have little or none to offer.

Purchase a couple of books on the subject; one that is written from the student’s perspective and one that is strictly fact based. Browse the internet, take some “virtual tours,” talk to people you respect and especially to those who might have similar interests and values.

The bottom line, which my oldest son keyed into pretty quickly in the early stages of his college career, was that, “It’s all about the people”. No matter how historic, well situated or well respected the institution may be, you have to feel good about the people you’ll be living this experience with. According to him the “people factor”, will make or break the whole deal, and from what I’ve observed he’s right The people who usually leave or transfer, are reacting to the people… not the school. So, GOOD LUCK with your search and enjoy getting acquainted with yourself in the process.