FINDING YOUR WAY

LIFE MOVES QUICKLY when you’re raising a child. One day, you’re buckling a toddler into a five-point harness to go to the grocery store. A few years later, your mailbox is full of college literature—postcards and booklets extolling the benefits of studying at various institutions.

The prospect of choosing just the right university can be daunting for teens and parents alike. By the time high school students are juniors, they should be well immersed in college research and prepared to make decisions by senior year. Fortunately, admissions offices are ready to help families navigate their highereducation journeys.

NARROWING CHOICES

of colleges and universities in this country—and even more overseas—students would be wise to whittle down their options a bit. Even though headlines tout individuals who were accepted to 100 schools, most applicants