1. Don't stress out too much.
Choosing a college seems like choosing how the rest of your life will go. This could be the case for some people, but if the college you choose doesn't end up working out, it won't be the end of the world.
2. Go out of your comfort zone.
You could really like a college, but you could be scared of distance, or how big or small the school is. You will never know whether that college is for you unless you try it out.
3. Imagine yourself interacting with the students at that school.
A huge factor for me was the student body. At the school I ended up choosing, I could really see myself fitting in and getting along with the students who attended it.
4. Don't choose a college based off of a friend or boyfriend/girlfriend.
As ideal as it sounds, going to a school based off a friend or significant other is way too easy. You want to make new friends and surround yourself with a completely different crowd. It's nice to have old friends there for comfort, but don't just choose a school because of someone else. Choose a school because YOU want to go there.
5. Join the Facebook page for each school.
While trying to decide which school I would attend, I scoped out each "Class of 2019" page to see what my future class-mates would be like. This can also be a good way to find your roommate or meet new friends.
6. Don't let other people try to influence your decision.
Parents, friends, or significant others can sometimes try to make your decision for you, but try to make the decision yourself. The best thing I could have done is choose a school because I wanted to go there, not because my parents wanted me to go there. In the end, it didn't end up working out, but I'm glad I at least tried.
7. Take into account what surrounds the school.
If the campus is in the middle of the city, and you are a complete scaredy-cat, that school may not be the best choice. On the other hand, if the school is in the middle of no where, and you're used to living near a city or a beach, eventually, you may get bored with your school.
8. Look into extra-curricular activities of each school.
If you're someone who has played sports all your life, but don't want something too serious, check to see if your school has club or intramural teams. If being in Greek life is something you've always wanted to do, look to see if your school has Greek life.
9. Don't turn down a school just because they don't have a club, sport, etc.
Just because your school doesn't have a certain club or intramural sport, doesn't mean you can't start that up at your school. If you really love a school, but they don't have an extra-curricular activity you're really passionate about, look into the possibilities of starting that up at your school.
10. Go with your gut feeling.
In the end, no one else can make a decision for you. You are the one that will be attending that school in the fall, so it is you that has to decide. After visiting and researching each school, go with what feels right. If it doesn't end up working out, you always have the option or transferring or trying out something else.
