<p>An important lesson reinforced by CC is "Know thyself!"</p>
<p>What matters to you most in a college? prestige? location? fit? academic quality in general? or in a specific area? EC opportunities? social opportunities? campus architecture and aesthetics? political climate? diversity? financial aid?</p>
<p>Only when you know yourself do you know what to look for in reviewing colleges and making a list ranked according to preference. The most important question is "can I become the kind of person I want to be and be happy and feel accepted in this environment?"--only a positive answer to this question ensures a happy and productive 4 years.</p>