Dayna
Go to a community college first for your basics. It's very common and unfortunate to come to college thinking you know what direction you want your life to go in and then in the midst of it all become a different person, learn that you're not as gifted in a particular subject as you thought, or lose intrest and have to change majors mid way through. Be involved if you can, it's always a good thing to meet more people and make more friends, it helps you in the long run.
Lindsey
Everyone should find out everything about the school, with sources ranging from alumni to current students to the internet. They should think hard about what they might want to do. Then come up with some back ups. Have at least three different possible careers because most people change their major at least once in college. Then, find the schools that excel at these majors. Finally, you should look at the area. If you are a family person, then going to school 10 hours away from your family might be a bad idea. Find an area that makes you happy. College is not worth it if you wake up every morning with regret for where you came. Once you are in college, make friends. You cannot sit at home all day and expect to like college. If a fraternity is not for you find something else. There are church groups everywhere. Working is good because you meet people and stay involved with someone everyday. Freindships are a great thing to establish while in college. Many are long lasting resulting from the experiences that you share.
Rebekah
Although choosing a college is a major decision and a student certainly needs to listen to the advice of his or her parents, ultimately, the choice needs to belong to the student. I would certainly advise a student to look first at community colleges. They offer a great education at a lower cost than an university, and they provide the transition between home and college that many students need in order to mature. When choosing a four-year university, I would advise the student to visit several college campuses, spend the night on campus, attend any campus events, and if possible, sit in on some classes and actually talk with professors. These opportunities give the student real incites of campus life at each particular college. Of course, if the student needs financial help in attending college, he or she needs to complete the FAFSA as soon as possible and talk with someone in financial aid at each college. Choosing a college is a major decision, and a student and his or her parents must obtain as much information as they are able in order to make the best choice for that individual student.
Katherine
I would say the best thing to finding the right college is to visit it and have your kids interact with the students at the college. Let them stay with a friend, attend a class, and even try staying the weekend there. It is absolutely crucial for the person to love the school and by visiting it and learning about the people and going to a class lets the child understand what will be going on and what is going to happen if they go to that particular school. The best advice again is to experiance it.