So you're a junior or senior in high school. The thought of college right around the corner makes you want to run the other way. I get it, I've been there too. Choosing a college is a HUGE deal. It gets announced at graduation, it's in your twitter bio and your parents brag about the chosen college to all of their friends. So, to make this difficult time a little easier, here is a list of things to keep in mind when searching for the perfect school.

1. Visit. Visit. Visit.

I can not emphasize enough how important it is to visit the school of your dreams. The campus's vibes can make or break your love for the school. It could be in a bad area, you could hate how big (or small) the campus is, or you can even just not like the surrounding area at all. Maybe the school is in the middle of nowhere and you're more of a city guy. Moral of the story: visit before making the big decision.

2. Research, then research more, and then research a little bit more.

Look at the location of the school. Look at the total student count and how many kids would be (on average) in your classes. Look at the majors and make sure they have what you want to study. Research some statistics on the school of your choice like what percent of the students graduate on time. This will help tremendously.

3. Have a backup plan.

While it is the best thing ever to have a reach school, you need to have a fallback and you need to be aware that you may not get into every school you apply to. Look up the average SAT score and GPA that incoming freshmen had the year before. You cannot be a C student and think that Stanford will hand you an acceptance letter right away. Be rational, it'll help a lot in the long run.

4. Do not judge a school based on what others have said.

Granted this can be a very good or a very bad thing, college is personal to YOU. YOU are the one attending this college or university. YOU are the one that will be staying there for four years getting your bachelor's degree. Do not let anyone else make your decision for you.

5. Don't worry about friends.

If none of your friends from high school are attending the school you want, don't worry. I promise that you will make plenty of new friends when you get to this new and foreign place.

I know how stressful the last years of high school are, but this is only the tip of the iceberg. Have fun your junior and senior year, but definitely do not wait until last minute to apply and decide on a school. This decision impacts the rest of your life so please do yourself a favor and take your time with it. Make sure you take the right decision.