Are you are almost done with high school and are raring to move onto the next stage of your life? Are you finally ready to start thinking about that all important question - How to choose the right college? Following are the top five questions to ask when making this important decision:

1. What do you want to major in? This may seem like an obvious question at first, but a surprising number of students enter college still undecided about what they would like to specialize in. If you have some kind of idea about what career you are interested in, it will help you shortlist your colleges even further. If you have an idea of what you want, look for schools that offer programs or courses that fit your needs. A career assessment test or guidance counseling may help in this matter if you are still torn between several options for a major.

2. What location are you looking at? Narrow down your choices by deciding on a general location. Is commuting to school an option? Or would you prefer an out of state university? Do you prefer a college in your own state? Is an urban setting important to you or are you open to the idea of a suburban or rural environment? When looking for colleges online, many search engines will give you the option of categorizing schools by area, so you can reach your decision more easily. Or maybe you could opt for an online degree program. Check if the college you are interested in offer an online option as well.

3. What are you willing to spend on your education? This is a big factor in choosing a college. Discuss this matter with your parents and counselors and look into all options of financial aid, student loans, and even scholarships. If a private college seems too expensive, check out community colleges or similar schools as a more affordable alternative.

4. What is the academic ranking of the college? Use the annual ranking of all U.S. colleges available from the U.S. News & World Report. This will list out all institutions on the basis of their academic superiority. If the prestige or rank of a college is important to you, this guide will come in handy.

5. What is the quality and reputation of the faculty? Some schools have highly reputed faculty on board for certain courses and majors. This is often a big draw for students who have a very specific academic route in mind.

You can also use the following checklist of criteria to work out the right college for you:
o Degree programs offered with major and minor options (as well as online options)
o Distance from home and location
o Student population / class size / reputation of faculty
o Public school versus private school
o Cost of program plus financial assistance available
o Housing options / social life on campus / safety features
o Accreditation
o Placement success

Once you have short-listed the colleges of your choice, it is important to actually take the time out and visit each campus. As you visit more schools, you will find out what you like and dislike. Most colleges offer daily tours or open houses, but always call ahead and make an appointment in order to avoid disappointment. Once you have seen the campus, you will have a clearer idea of the dorms, cafeteria, other students and the overall atmosphere of the school. Ultimately, this will be your home for the next four years so no detail is too small to check out. Collect all possible information about the college before applying for any educational degree program. Check out their website, brochure, testimonials and talk to other students and parents for first-hand feedback.

The final step left is to apply! After all your research, apply to all the colleges that made your final list. This could range from five to ten (or even more if you like but keep in mind that there are application fees involved). Once you have all your application materials in order, send them out and wait for a response. There is no doubt that the application process might be long and paper-intensive, but finding the perfect college will be worth all the effort in the long run.