You've taken all the tours and done the necessary research: read websites and colleges' publications and talked to people in the know (alumni, admissions officers, your guidance counselor...). Now's the time to develop your final list.

HEAD Lines

Solidifying this list now allows you to assess the work required for each application, so you can make a time schedule for your summer and fall. You will likely find a pattern in the schools on your final list - they'll likely be similar in character, size, type of location, academics, etc. This means you know your needs and what you want on a campus.

Take your longer list and cross out:

• Schools where you really cannot see yourself studying;

• Schools where you had a bad visit/tour;

• Schools that you want for a "name" but for little else. Make sure to keep:

• A state school (or at least one in your home state);

• A school or two where your grades and testing are well within the average/above average for the school (you need some safeties!);

• One or two schools of your dreams.

From Other HEADS

TO NARROW MY CHOICES DOWN, I visited the schools that offered the specific program I was looking for (in my case, journalism). And I weighed the pluses and minuses of my other options, such as whether the college was liberal or conservative, whether or not the school had an honors program, whether or not it offered scholarships, and its size.

-- JASON TORREANO

STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, BROCKPORT

BE SELECTIVE DURING THE APPLICATION PROCESS. My parents told me to do as much as I could do to narrow my choices so I could focus attention on fewer schools. They said that when you get in, you'll know it's where you want to go. Try to avoid getting into 20 schools. Other people applying to college might get screwed if you apply to a school you don't even want to go to and you get accepted and take their place.

-- BRIAN ROSEN

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY

Web Resources

If you haven't gotten enough yet, point your browser to www.Collegeboard.com  

HoH Tip

If you haven't already, make a file for each college that interests you. Include brochures, maps, any important names and contact numbers, deadlines for admission, and financial aid forms.