How do you know which college is right for you?

There could be several colleges that are right for you! You can have similar experiences at many different places. Think about what you want your college experience to be like. Can you see yourself at a large school or would you prefer something smaller? Is class size something that's important to you? Do you want to be close to home? Is there a particular club or activity you'd like to pursue in college? Do you want your college to have a religious affiliation? Does the college take any steps to help with job placement upon graduation and are there local internship opportunities?
Rather than worrying that you'll choose the "wrong" college, try to picture your idea college experience. When I was in high school, I applied to colleges that were all pretty similar. I had wanted to go to the same school for a year or two. I was so excited when I was accepted. Before I committed, I wanted to go and look at some of the other schools I had applied to. To everyone's surprise (including my own), I ended up going to a different school. The deciding factor for me was just that when I went to visit, I just felt more at home on the campus. It was something very simple that I wouldn't have expected. Don't put too much pressure on the "right" school for you. Decide what kind of school you'd like to attend and, once you get there, you'll find your niche.

What are you interested in or passionate about? Would you like to live near home, or explore a new city/climate? After you decide the focus of your studies, see if the colleges in the area(s) you want to live focus on those tracks. If you haven't already, start applying for scholarships. Check the tuition of the colleges you're most interested in attending and ask your parents to help you put together a budget to see if the finances work out so you're not saddled with a lot of Student Loan debt. As Heather noted above, don't worry about a "wrong" college. You can usually transfer. I delayed my college education, so it took me a lot longer to obtain my degree (6 years). Best of luck!

Catherine, choosing a college sounds extremely daunting, I get that! I remember trying to figure out where I wanted to attend, there are SO MANY SCHOOLS! One thing that was helpful from our college advisors is they asked us questions that helped us steer ourselves in the right direction- do you find yourself to be more conservative, liberal, or somewhere in the middle? do you want to get lost in the crowd or be visible to all your professors? is there a specific area of study that you want to consider? what is your college budget? Questions like that helped me understand a range of schools that could fit my needs and desires.

In the end, if you can swing it, a visit either just a tour or overnights are even better (some schools offer this, or if you have a friend at a college in which you're interested). The brochures show the BEST parts of the schools. They are meant to highlight the highs, but learning from real students helps tremendously. In my opinion, the only brochure that doesn't hyperbolize its beauty is Pepperdine, and I didn't even go there! Regardless, do most of the leg-work before you visit so you know what kinds of questions you need answered.

Good luck! This is such an exciting time!