<p>hc, start with the money. If you intend to pay full tuition, then proceed without restrictions. If you need or want financial aid, first determine if you are eligible for need based aid. You can do this by using an on-line calculator. If that works for you, your daughter will have a fairly wide list. If need based aid doesn’t work, then she’ll have to concentrate on colleges that offer merit aid.</p>
<p>Second, round out her “wishlist.” I wouldn’t concentrate too much on her academic area of interest as this is likely to change. I would instead focus on atmosphere and personality. </p>
<p>There are small liberal arts colleges and medium sized privates that are located in cities, but they don’t have easy access to skiing and outdoors activity. The schools that are known to be ski and outdoors-friendly are not in cities. At this point she may pursue both directions but she’s unlikely to find one that offers both.</p>
<p>Other factors to consider are geography, Greek (sorority) presence, political activism, arts, sports. Would she consider an all women’s school? </p>
<p>After she’s narrowed in on two or three that sound good she can expand her list to include a range of selectivity. In other words, reach, match, safety schools with similar personalities.</p>