With more than 4,000 institutions of higher education in the United States alone, choosing a college can seem like a daunting task. But you don't have to navigate the college search process alone. I’ll share with you my dos and don’ts for searching for and selecting a college.

College search dos

Do start to research early. The earlier you start looking, the easier it will be to narrow choices down by your senior year.

Do research on majors to find which schools offer the ones you are thinking about and make sure you find out if those majors are selective.

Do get involved in high school early on. Why? Because this will help you discover who you are and help you develop leadership skills. Discovering what you are good at and what you enjoy in high school may help you choose a college or university and ultimately a specific college major.

Do consider location and size of a college or university. This is a big factor to help narrowing your college list.

Do keep an open mind with your search. Put a list of schools together, and make sure to include a few that you didn’t think of initially. Add some schools from out of state or some schools that you haven’t heard of before.

Do pay attention to deadlines. This is an important one! A lot of universities have specific deadlines for scholarships and applications to special programs such as honors, study abroad or special housing on campus. Set a reminder in your phone if a deadline is approaching for an early decision application deadline or a scholarship/honors application deadline.

Do remember passwords. An easy way to manage passwords for different colleges is to dedicate one email address for all your college applications.

Do get to know the admissions coordinator that visits your high school. This shows a university that you are interested in them and could possibly weigh in on admission decision or scholarships.

Do attend receptions in your area that are held by university officials or alumni. This is wonderful way to get to know the school and meet staff and faculty before visiting the campus. This is also your chance to network with professors teaching the subjects you’re interested in or meet with alumni that are working in the field you want to go into.

Do trust your gut feelings when you visit colleges. We all know when something just feels right.

College search don'ts

Don’t rule out a college because it doesn’t have a strong name recognition. There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S., so of course you haven't heard of them all! Some lesser known schools offer wonderful campus experiences, stellar academic programs and internships.

Don’t limit where you apply because of fear. Applying to colleges should be fun and a chance for self-discovery. If you like a certain part of the country or have always dreamed of living in a far away city, take the leap and apply to a school there. Who knows, you might just end up there.

Don’t forget to take ownership of the college application process. While it’s helpful to have guidance along the way, do not let your parents fill out applications or scholarships for you. This is your journey and exploration.

Don’t rule out a school based on costs. Why is this important? Because most schools (typically higher cost private schools) will never make you pay the full tuition listed in their marketing pieces. A lot of schools have the ability to lower their costs with grant money (gift money) and scholarships to students to compete with other institutions.

Don’t forget to visit a campus. While every admission rep can show you beautiful pictures online or at a college fair, it’s important to visit colleges on your list, take a campus tour and get a feel for the campus.

Don’t just apply to schools that your friends or siblings apply to. Be your own person and find schools that fit who you are and who you want to be in the future.

Don’t forget to research careers. After all, this is why you are going to college—to find a fulfilling job. So research careers that you think you would like. Interview people you know who are in those careers and ask them what major they studied in college.

Don’t forget to plan your coursework. Figure out early on how your academic courses in high school will play into college application review. Your high school counselor is a good person to seek out early for academic course and college planning.

Don’t forget to have fun with this process! Most admission reps want to meet with you and help you. Applying to colleges can be overwhelming but if you start early, stay focused and interact with campuses you are interested in, then it will be less stressful and fun.