To the average American, receiving that acceptance letter in the mail from the college of his or her dreams represents a significant and memorable watershed. Incontestably, one of the most stressful tasks- selecting from a maze of more than 9,000 post-secondary institutions in the United States- is at that point, behind them. Finding the optimal collegiate match for one's intellectual and interpersonal expectations, as well as one's learning style involves a generous amount of time, research and introspection. The pay-off is well-worth the investment, however, for the end result is a well-adjusted college student who fits perfectly in his or her social and academic milieu, performs at peak level, and is able to capitalize on his or her university education. In short, choosing the right school enables students to achieve their potential. The college elimination and selection process involves an evaluation of numerous factors. What follows is a discussion of the critical criteria...