Choosing a college can feel overwhelming. All those catalogs, websites, applications, visits and acceptance letters (you hope, right?). But with a little guidance you can start putting one foot in front of the other on the journey toward higher education. We've talked to five admissions experts and come up with the top five things you can do to make the most of your college search. Put these tips into action and you'll be well on your way to choosing a school that's right for you.

"Going to college means entering into a whole new environment," says Colleen Ramos, vice president of enrollment management at Atlanta Christian College in East Point, Georgia. "The way this new place fits your personality will be a major factor in your success and happiness."

To discover the school that's the best fit for your personality, you'll need to ask yourself some practical questions to help you identify your needs and desires as a college student. Anne Edmunds, office of admission associate director at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, gives a good list to begin with: "Do I need to be in a small or large city? Close to home or far away? Do I feel comfortable with a large student body? Do I want to have relationships with professors who know my name? What do I want to major in? What kinds of extracurricular activities (sports, music, community service, etc.) are important to me?"

It's also essential to consider how your faith fits with your college choice. Edmunds suggests you ask yourself: "Do I want to attend a faith-based institution? Does the school have a statement of faith? If so, is it important to me that I agree with it? Do professors and students have to sign it? What types of campus ministries are available? What kinds of churches are nearby?"

Once you've answered some of these practical questions, dig a little deeper. "Spend time asking God what he wants from you," says admissions counselor Anthony Eldridge of Washington Bible College in Lanham, Maryland. "And spend time asking yourself what your interests and passions are."

If you don't know exactly what you want to study, don't worry. (Even if you do, remember you may change your mind a number of times before graduation.) Identifying your passions as well as the type of college you feel comfortable with is probably more important than searching for the perfect program in a particular subject or major field of study.

To flesh this out, Eldridge told the story of a student we'll call Ray. This student chose to attend a large Midwestern university because he wanted to major in architecture. Once he got on campus, he realized architecture wasn't his passion—he just thought it would make him some money. So Ray assessed his life and decided to choose a new school based on the things that were really important to him. He wanted to go into full-time ministry so he searched for schools that were strong in Bible teaching. He also wanted to be relatively close to family so he looked for schools close to his mother's home in Baltimore. He was disillusioned with his experience at a big school so he considered smaller schools this time around.

After checking out several schools, Washington Bible College seemed like a great fit. Ray liked the small-college feel, but he also loved the big-city experience of Washington D.C. When he got to WBC he flourished, his performance in the classroom improved, he later became student body president, and now he is almost finished with seminary and looking to do ministry in the D.C. area.

Ray didn't completely consider who he was the first time around. But he stopped, reassessed the path he was on and asked important questions about himself and his goals. Not only did he benefit from the results, he thrived at a college that was a great fit.

So, take some time to do a little self-examination—and do so before you arrive on campus. If you do, you'll head down the right path from the very start.

Using what you've discovered about yourself and your desires for college, it's time to narrow the field. Even when you cut down your choices from the more than 4,000 colleges out there (and that's just in the U.S.), tracking down the facts can be time consuming. That means the way you research becomes really important. "The amount of time is not an issue as much as seeking the right information and asking the right questions," says Ramos.

One of your best resources (besides looking through this issue of the Christian College Guide) is the internet. Start at christiancollegeguide.com. You should also look at the websites of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (cccu.org), the North American Coalition for Christian Admissions Professionals (naccap.org), and The Association for Biblical Higher Learning (abhe.org). Then go to specific college websites to learn more. The experts also recommend online resources such as petersons.com, collegeboard.com, princetonreview.com and collegeview.com

When you're tired of looking at the computer screen, there are lots of real live people eager to help you through this process. Admissions professionals know a lot about the schools they work for as well as the process of choosing a college. Edmunds says, "Admissions staff members want to help make your college search easier by giving you the information you need. You should be prepared to ask questions of each college so you can sort through the information and make the best decision for you."

Successful searchers find willing helpers even closer to home. "Spend time in your high school's career and college center looking at college information," suggests Ramos. "Make appointments to visit with college representatives when they come to your school, and watch for local college fairs. If your school doesn't have a career center, try the local community college."

As you wade through the stats and the facts, keep in mind that many factors—not only the education you receive, but the friendships you make and the spiritual growth you experience—make the college years some of the best of your life.

Enough analyzing and pondering—it's time for action! The last thing you want to do is procrastinate and miss important application deadlines. You don't have to have everything figured out in order to schedule a campus visit or apply to a school. You don't have to know if you've found the perfect school. In fact, this process often helps you refine your choices and move further along the path of choosing a college.

"Many schools have early deadlines for financial aid and scholarships," says Amanda Anderson, director of admissions and academic advising at South Dakota's University of Sioux Falls. "Applying early helps your admissions counselor get to know you better. And the sooner and better we get to know you, the more we can help you." That extra help may mean more money for you, and it's sure to relieve the stress that waiting until the last minute brings.

Terri Snyders Crumley, director of admission at Central College in Pella, Iowa, agrees: "Meeting deadlines helps families and admission staff. It helps us guide families more effectively through the admission process and gives us time to be sure students know about all the opportunities."

Even if you think getting into a certain school is a long shot, go for it. "You will never know if you'll be admitted unless you apply," Edmunds says. Once you decide on a school, make sure to notify the other schools that accepted you that you've made your decision. Doing so allows these schools to mark you off their list and concentrate on other candidates.

Ever bought running shoes? I bet you never buy a new pair without trying them on, right? Well, you've really got to "try on" a few colleges to find the right fit. That's where campus visits come in.

"A lot of schools look good on paper, but you never know what they are about until you go see for yourself. The campus visit is the litmus test," says Eldridge. "When you visit the campus, ask questions—lots of them. And ask them to a lot of different people. Talk to the admissions people, but also talk to financial aid representatives, students and professors. Try to see as much of the campus as possible. Sit in on a class, attend chapel, check out a dorm room, eat in the dining hall, and exercise in the campus fitness center. Get as much of the campus experience as you possibly can."

You may find your campus visits are full of surprises that challenge the conclusions you've made about where to attend college. Anderson remembers a student named Anne whose campus visit did just that. A talented artist interested in an art major, Anne wanted a big school. She had no real intention of attending the University of Sioux Falls (USF), but planned her visit because her parents wanted her at least to look at a school closer to home. Although convinced a big school was for her, she felt a different sense of peace during her campus visit to USF. After a lot of prayer and consideration, she chose USF and loves it.

When you visit, warned the experts we talked to, avoid the temptation of making it only about spending time with friends or social interaction. You can have a really fun stay and learn nothing about the school. Do your best to make the most of your time on campus and really get a feel for the experience the school provides.

Sometimes cost, time and distance make it impossible to visit every school on your list. If this is your situation, do all you can to get a sense of the school in other ways. "Look into some of the virtual tours colleges place on their websites," says Ramos. "Talk to students on the phone or get in touch with adults who went to a college you are considering."

The more firsthand information you can gather, the better you'll be able to tell if the school is a good fit for you.

As with any big decision in life, get input from the people who love and know you best. Remember, your parents have known you as long as you've been alive, and your brothers and sisters most likely have been around you a long time, too. Eldridge advises, "Talk to your family; they can help you make the best decision possible. Your parents know you, and they can give you advice or at least another perspective."

Even when you do your best to know yourself, you can benefit from the perspective of others. "Have someone ask you the important questions like 'How do you learn best?' and 'What things beyond academics do you hope to do at college?'" says Crumley. "Ultimately, you (not your parents, your career counselor or your best friend) will be going to the classes, doing the homework, eating the food, and living in the dorms. So choosing a college environment that reflects your values, interests and priorities is very important." Having someone ask questions and listen to your thoughts can help you see the answers to those questions more clearly.

And in the midst of all the applications, forms and phone calls, don't forget to call on the One who created you and knows you best. "Pray and go with your heart," says Anderson. "Think about where you see yourself being comfortable, growing and excelling. Pray that God will guide you to where he wants you to be." n