Written by Katie Hinderer, Web Editor

If you are a senior in high school you are probably knee deep in college applications and preparations. And as your mailbox can likely attest there are thousands of options for you pick from. How in the world do you narrow it down to a few solid choices to send your application to?

Get out paper and pen and start answering the questions below. Then look at the colleges before you and begin purging the schools that don’t fit your criterion.

• What is the major or majors I am considering? (if you are wavering between two or more make sure the schools you are looking at offer each of your options.)

• Do I want to live in a big city or little city?

• What would be my ideal class size? 15? 300? 750?

• Do I want to study abroad through a program at my school?

• How close to family or friends do I need to be?

• Do I want to go somewhere that will strengthen my faith such as a school run by a specific religious group?

• Is there weather that I personally cannot handle?

• Is there a price threshold that my parents and I cannot exceed?

• Do I want a liberal arts education, or specialized?

• What kind of living situation do I need? Single-sex dorms, on-campus apartments, etc…

• What kind of meal program do I need? Somebody else making my meals every day is best or I can make my own?

• Do I need scholarship or work-study options?