College: The one word that evokes so many feelings; excitement, fear, perhaps even confusion? As a high school student, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the many steps the college process involves. But with many resources and guides to start planning for the future, it is vital to be informed about the basics. As you begin your college search, you need to consider what size school you would like to attend. With so many options offered in the U.S. it can be overwhelming and a decision full of uncertainty. There are many factors that can come into play when deciding on the size school you see yourself thriving in.

The beginning of junior year is the time to start getting serious about the college process. By planning and organizing early, it can relieve stress and hassling tasks later on. As students buckle down and set educational goals and wants, they will be more focused and successful during the college application process.

The first step to deciding on a college or university is to tour the campus itself. The best advice to start college hunting is to visit any and all schools you are interested in if possible before applying. This will help you save time and money in the long run when you start the application process. By actually setting foot on the campus you can rule out the universities that just aren’t for you. “I believe that you never really know if you like a college until you visit it,” said FCHS junior Cara Wissinger.

Keep in mind there are a few different types of campuses, but what you need to keep in mind is campus size. Large campuses are, well, just that: Large. If you are a person that takes advantage of each and every opportunity presented to you, and is looking for a wide variety of majors, a larger school is best for you. Big schools offer a chance to get involved in so many things. While smaller campuses thrive in setting with small class sizes, personal attention, and a strong sense of community. Identifying the needs and wants of you as a student are very important in deciding between the sizes of the school you would like to end up at.

Many schools make it very easy to schedule and attend campus tours. The cost is usually free, so the only money out of pocket is the cost to travel there. FCHS almost makes it painless to visit colleges, as the absence is excused as long as a note is provided from the college’s admissions office. The school also offers an array of opportunities and information about universities in our very own state and across the country. The career center is run by PVCC career coach Don Landis, who is assisted by college advisor Fiona Charles, and is a great place to stop by and hear the latest news regarding tours, scholarships, financial aid, and more. By taking advantage of the resources offered by FCHS, you will confident on your path of school searching.

Still not sure how to go about picking which schools may be of interest to you? www.collegeboard.org is a great site to weigh options and to see what all is available all in one place. There are selections that cover majors, housing, location, and size; all just a click away. Under college search there are 3,956 college options, just waiting to be discovered.