<p>Soochow…post 6 is excellent only if you are looking at top prestige schools ONLY and have excellent financial resources for trips, applications, sending of standardized test scores, and paying for college.</p>
<p>The suggestions of trying to figure out what you would like, and where are good. Most families also need to set a financial criteria for college costs. If possible, visit campuses. Some people can afford those trips and others simply cannot. </p>
<p>MOST students do not apply to 17 colleges. Most students attend college very close to home. Most switch majors more than one time after they start college (so a search based on major might not work for every student…ymmv). </p>
<p>I would suggest that students first discuss college with their families. This discussion can include distance from home, and family financial resources to pay for college. The student’s interests can then be added in. </p>
<p>Come up with a balanced list of schools starting at the bottom…pick your safety schools FIRST. These should be schools that will guarantee you acceptance, that you can afford, and that you would like to attend if accepted. Then find some matches and reaches. If possible, apply to one EA or rolling admission school early. It is nice to have one acceptance early in the game. Some students don’t apply to any reach schools…and that is fine. Just apply to places where you would go if accepted. If you really hate a school, don’t waste your time and money applying.</p>
<p>You need to look at your SAT/GPA scores and GPA realistically.</p>