High school juniors: it’s time to start planning college visits. But narrowing down schools to visit, and eventually apply to, can be overwhelming. To help, consider these five criteria for finding your perfect college:

Safety, match, and reach schools. Consider colleges where your academic profile – GPA and test scores – matches that of the student body. You also should have at least one safety school on your list; these are colleges where your academic profile is above the average student. Finally, look at reach schools, those where the academic profile of the average student is above yours. Developing a well-balanced list will ensure that you’re admitted to the right colleges – and give you a choice in deciding where to ultimately attend.

Academics. Does the college have the academic programs you want to study? Some colleges have architecture and engineering, while others do not. What if you change your mind and decide to study something entirely different? Will the college offer enough options for you? You should also keep in mind the quality of the academic experience – look at the average class size, the student to faculty ratio, the average retention and graduation rates, and the percent of students who continue on to graduate school, or receive jobs, upon graduation.

Location. Do you want to be within driving distance of home? Or are you okay taking a flight every time you come home for breaks and holidays? Is public transportation available, or will you have a car on campus? You should also consider your future classmates. If you’re looking at a public university in another state, are most of those students going to be from that state? And will they all head home on the weekends?

Setting. Do you like the noise and excitement of a big city? Or the quiet of the countryside? Perhaps you’re more interested in a mix – a suburban campus only a few miles outside the city. Visit colleges so that you can determine which setting you like best. Perhaps it’s a rural campus but in a college town, which has thousands of students and feels like a small city with lots to do. You’ll be living there for four years, so you’ll want to feel comfortable in your surroundings.

Cost. Is the cost of college a concern for you? It is for most families! Consider colleges that offer merit-based scholarships as well as need-based aid. You’ll also want to look at the cost of college after financial aid is awarded, since the sticker price might not be what you pay after grants, loans and work study aid are provided. Be sure to look at public universities in your state and other states. Finally, keep in mind your total debt burden after four years.

These five criteria are a good place to start your search for the perfect college.

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