Research several colleges to get an understanding of what they offer. Decide what you want from a college before focusing on individual schools. Do you want to study at a renowned research school? Is having a good football, hockey or basketball team important to you? Is a certain fraternity or sorority active on campus? Make a list of the criteria a school must meet. Include everything from the average price of tuition to housing options to student population.
Visit the college and go on a tour. Ask questions about student life, the campus culture and opportunities for students to grow and learn outside of class. If you have decided on a career field, ask to tour that particular department and to meet with some of the professors. If there are special programs at the school you are interested in, such as honor level courses, ask to meet with the head of the program.
Discuss the college with family and friends. Go over what you enjoyed about the visit and any concerns you have. Decide if the college has met the criteria you laid out. If it does not, decide if those requirements are as important as you once thought, or if the school not meeting them is a deal breaker. While you may not have all your criteria met, choosing the best school from the start makes going to college much easier than switching schools mid-stream.