Just because a school is a "brand-name" or Ivy League, does not mean that is the right school for you. Your college years will be an all-encompassing life experience, so you want to look at all of the factors.

1. Understand your reasons for going to college

Maybe your parents did not go to college or maybe they regard higher education as one of the most important activities of life and hold high expectations for your academic performance. Either way, the approach of your college years after high school should be a time of hard contemplation. You may not know what your career path is, but you can still look at your passions, strengths and weaknesses to come up with a reasonable vision of the type of academic environment that most suits you. 

While it is true that in some arenas the name of the college you attended will count more than others, the vast majority of employers and indeed graduates themselves simply do not rely on the name of their college for either a rewarding career or happiness in life itself. Think quality and character of the individual.

A wide range of excellent 4-year colleges have populations numbering under 4,000. A smaller school often affords a more favorable environment for personal and academic growth.

With some few exceptions, most people in their late teens and early twenties do not know exactly what they want to focus on as an academic or career objective. That's OK, and in fact it is a good thing! The original purpose of higher education is still valid - to expose your mind to any number of disciplines and enrich you with a solid groundwork of knowledge across many spectra, including the arts and literature. Use this time to take in a wealth of intellectual experiences to help you later decide on which paths to walk.

While the published tuition and associated costs may be daunting and lead you to believe that paying for school is a hopeless cause,the fact is that there are many avenues to paying for your schooling. Low-cost loans, scholarships, work-study programs, part-time...if your desire is there, there are many resources available to you.Check out some of the links on this site.

6. Your Age is Not a Critical Factor

Although attending college immediately after high school has become the tradition, and may be the most convenient for many families, by the same token it may be more beneficial to start school later on. Sometimes work, travel, volunteerism may be the most suitable "next-step" in our life and often these experience can help your admissions profile by providing valuable life experience that adds depth and maturity to your character.