Selecting a college is a big decision and like most major decisions it should be made only after a thorough investigation of the alternatives. For some families, the financial investment associated with a college education is second only to what they have invested in their homes. In many cases, it will be their largest investment. With so many options available, the obvious question is, "When should I start investigating colleges?"

Is freshman year too soon?

While some college students report that they always knew they would attend college, few began to search for the right college until they entered high school. So, beginning the search in the freshman year of high school isn't too early to start. The sooner you begin the more time you have to look at the different types of colleges and to learn what they have to offer. At this point you shouldn't focus on picking a college. Your task is simply to collect information.

Do I have to know what I want to study in college before beginning?

The answer to this question is simple - absolutely not! In fact, about half of the students enrolling as college freshmen each year enroll as undecided majors. In other words, they do not know exactly what they want to study during their college career. (Those students who indicate that they do know what they want to study frequently change their minds after enrolling.) Not knowing what you want to study shouldn't be a source of embarrassment. Keeping an open mind about what to study is probably a good idea since many college freshmen really don't understand what is involved in the various fields of study. Colleges and universities offer a variety of programs and services designed to help students pick a major and most colleges will allow students a year to a year-and-a-half after enrolling to make this choice.

If I don't know what I want to study, how can I know if the college offers what I want?

Not knowing what you want to study in college isn't the same as not having an idea of your general interests. Although about half of all college freshmen enter college with an undeclared major, most of them have some idea of the general areas that are of interest but not necessarily the exact aspect of the area they would like to study. For example, a college freshman might know that they want something in the liberal arts and sciences, they may not know if they want to study psychology, sociology or history.

Knowing your general area of interest is a good initial step. It can serve as a first-cut in deciding what to study. For example, if you want to study the liberal arts and sciences, you know what kind of school to look for - those that offer majors in the liberal arts and sciences. So while you may not know exactly what you want to study, you may know what you do not want to study.

How can I start the process?

Today, college is a buyer's market and most colleges compete for your enrollment. That makes them willing to respond to your inquiries and to provide you with the information you request. But since you can't correspond with or visit all of the colleges in the country, you will need to narrow the list to a more manageable number.  

One way to narrow the list is to use one of the college search engines available on the Internet.  One of the easiest to use can be found at http://www.petersons.com/.

On the Peterson's site you can complete a profile of the kind of college you are seeking by identifying the college by general location, size, programs offered, etc. The search engine will compile a list of the colleges that match the characteristics you identified. You may find that several searches are necessary to narrow the listing so that it includes a reasonable number of schools. Once you are satisfied with the list, you can begin the information collection process.

What do I do next?

The answer is simple, let the admission offices at the colleges on your list know that you are interested in them. How you do this is a matter of personal preference. You may want to try some or all of the following techniques.

Write directly to the college - While this is time consuming, it is also the best approach to indicate that you have a high level of interest in the institution. It allows you to be specific about what kind of information you want.

Use the college's Web site - Most college and university Web sites provide individuals with opportunity to key in their name and address and to request information about the college.  The college will then place you on their mailing list and forward the information you request.

Call the college - Use the college's toll-free number to let them know of your interest and to request information.

Attend college fairs and college nights - Hundreds of college fairs are scheduled annually at facilities all around the country with a variety of institutions represented.  The college fair format allows you to gather information about many institutions at the same location at the same time. Check with your guidance counselor about college fairs in your area. The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) sponsors a number of national fairs throughout the country. For a list of NACAC sponsored fairs go to http://www.nacac.com/exhibit/fair.cfm.

Visit the college - While this may not always be practical, a college visit gives you the opportunity to see the college, the campus and to meet current students.  Most colleges offer campus tours and all you need to do to arrange a tour is to call the admission office.  If you are traveling with your family, set aside some time to visit the colleges in that area - you may not have another opportunity to visit later on.

In summary, it's never too early to begin the process. Use all of the time you have to sort out the options. The more time you spend on the process early on, the easier your final decision will be.