For Juniors:

Summer is the time for juniors to seriously begin considering their post-secondary options. The more research you complete, the more likely it is that you will be happy with your choice. You should have a list of three to seven colleges that you really like and to which you want to apply. Since the best time to visit colleges is when classes are in session, you should have begun those visits during the second term of your junior year. If you have more than ten on your potential college list, you probably haven't done enough research and should continue to check out books, web sites, and videos to get a better feel for each school and what they have to offer you!

Although it is ideal to visit colleges during the academic year, visiting in the summer will be valuable. Seeing the college firsthand, taking a tour and talking to students can be the greatest help in deciding whether or not a school is right for you. The web sites listed below will help you identify potential colleges.

REMEMBER: College web sites can have idyllic scenes and can show you many things you need to know about the college, but only a campus visit can help you decide if this college is the right place for you. You owe it to yourself to visit several colleges to be able to make comparisons.

Campus Tours - Virtual tours which will show you what the campus looks like.
http://www.campustours.com

College Confidential - A site that will help to "demystify" the admissions process and will provide information on other college issues.
http://collegeconfidential.com

CollegeNET - Online applications and free financial aid information. CollegeNET provides separate databases for four-year colleges and also for community, technical, and junior colleges and takes you to the actual Web sites of the colleges. The four-year college database is searchable by geography, tuition, enrollment, and potential college major.
http://www.collegenet.com

College Opportunities On-Line (Cool) - College Opportunities On-Line is your direct link to nearly 7,000 colleges and universities in the United States. If you are thinking about a large university, a small liberal arts college, a specialized college, a community college, a career or technical college or a trade school, you can find them all here.
http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cool

College Search - College Search offers two starting points. Use the College MatchMaker to find colleges that meet all of your needs or use the College QuickFinder to explore a school already familiar to you. Either way, you'll find the latest info on 3,600+ colleges, plus easy access to related tools.
http://apps.collegeboard.com/search/index.jsp