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Now the big question: where do you want to go? There are lots of possibilities, but don't be overwhelmed. With a little thought and planning now, you can narrow your search and find the school that's right for you.

Go To College!

Step 1: Talk to Your Parents, or Friends Already In College
Choosing a college is a big decision, and you don’t have to do it alone. Include your parents and family members in conversations and plans for your future. These people—and other caring adults—may have useful advice, can provide you with a different perspective, or just be there to listen. Friends who are in college now or have recently graduated are also a good resource because they can speak from their own experience and offer helpful tips and practical advice.

Step 2: Think about where you'd like to be
Some of us prefer to be close to home, while others want to try a new state or region of the country. Keep in mind that the further you are from home, the more it will cost to go back for visits and holidays.

Step 3: Think about what kind of college environment best suits you
What sort of college do you want to attend? Would you prefer a big school or a small one? Being in a city or rural area? There are many options, from community and technical colleges to small private colleges to large public universities. Each comes with its own distinct advantages and benefits.

Public colleges in Massachusetts offer a high-quality education in a variety of disciplines and are often more affordable than private institutions. In fact, Massachusetts residents pay significantly less than students from out of state. There are 15 community colleges, nine state colleges and five university campuses in Massachusetts. Talk to your guidance counselor about which of these might be a good choice for you.

For more information about public colleges in MA, visit: www.mass.edu and click on "Links to Campuses." There's also a link to a map, showing all public college campuses across the state.

Massachusetts is also home to more than 150 private colleges and universities. To learn more about these, visit the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts (AICUM) website: www.masscolleges.org or www.aicum.org. Another good local resource is the New England Association of Schools and Colleges: www.neasc.org.

Nationwide there are thousands of colleges and universities, both public and private. Most have their own websites, but to research schools in other states, try the College Board’s College MatchMaker at apps.collegeboard.com/search/adv_typeofschool.jsp.

Step 4: Think about what you want to study
Do you want to be a teacher? A doctor? A veterinarian? An actor? An artist? Start thinking now about what career you might want to pursue after college. This will help narrow your search. Take some time to assess your skills and interests and research potential jobs that might use your skills.

There are plenty of web sites and resources available to help you do this. A great one is the Massachusetts Career Information System "Occupation Sort" program. You tell it what your interests and preferences are, and it recommends careers that might be a good match for you. Check it out at http://masscis.intocareers.org/occsort2/OS_Intro.aspx.

It might also be helpful to know which industries, such as nursing or engineering, are growing and likely to provide plenty of potential job opportunities in the future. Your guidance counselor can talk with you about this, or you can look can look at a site like Career Info Net, which tracks which careers are growing most rapidly. You may want to focus your attention on schools with degree or training programs in these high-demand areas.

Make sure you go to the career guidance center at your middle school, high school, local  colleges, or your town library for additional information and help on career planning.

Looking for more resources to help you GO to college? Click here to check out our links!