Research and visit colleges that match your educational interests. Finding the right fit, or where you will be in a comfortable environment, is possibly the most important step. This could relate to the school's size, location or degree offerings. Determine what you are looking for and make some initial decisions.
Submit completed applications to three to five schools. This process typically takes place in the fall, while acceptances arrive in March or April. Some students may apply for early acceptance and know up to a year in advance where they will enroll the next fall. Be sure to include a safe choice to insure acceptance. Official high school transcripts and standardized text scores will require formal requests and fees to be sent to the colleges. Non-traditional students may find amended policies that allow for on-campus aptitude testing in lieu of current transcripts and standardized test scores.
Assess offers. Colleges will notify you of your acceptance or denial for entry into that year's class. If you receive more than one offer, you must make the final decision. Many factors come into play during this decision as the urgency of the situation may make you feel more willing to stay closer to home or could spur you to attempt a more challenging degree program.
Secure funding. Wait for financial aid award letters to help determine the best choice. While this should not be the only factor, it will help in determining what the best overall situation is for student and family. You may have similar amounts of aid from two schools, but it could only cover half of the costs of one school while paying for everything at another. Your final choice should be the right fit with adequate financial assistance.