You should begin by narrowing down your options; your field of interest or major, as well as the kind of campus life you are looking for. Will you stay home or go away? Do you want a mega university campus with a big league football team, the intimate environs of a small liberal arts college, a less stressful community college, or even a hands-on career training school?

These choices are all very different so figure out who you are and where you want to be first. Campus visits with overnight stays will play a key role in helping you experience the school first-hand and get a feel for what life would be like there. The choices will also depend on how well you performed in high school, how well-equipped you are for a challenging college-level education and who will accept you.

There are several degree options but the basic four-year bachelor's degree—also known as an undergraduate degree—is the most common. It will take about four years to earn; less if you have accrued Advanced Placement credits in high school that will count toward your degree. Bachelor's degrees are usually awarded in one of three broad areas: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.). There are more in other specialty fields.

Depending on your chosen profession, a graduate degree may be required. If you want to become a physician you will have to get an M.D. (Medical Doctor) degree from an accredited medical school. Lawyers are required to get a J.D. (Juris Doctor) degree from an accredited law school. The same goes for many other professions, including dentistry, nursing, accounting, business management and more.

Other graduate degrees include the Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) and the Master's Degree. Master's degrees can be professional—for instance, a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), M.S.W. (Master of Social Work), and M.Ed. (Master of Education) degrees, among others.

If you don't feel you are ready for a four-year degree and perhaps prefer to work and attend school part-time, a two-year associate degree could be a good option. On the other hand, if attending an Ivy League college has always been your dream then go for the goal! But remember to have a back-up plan because those super selective colleges only choose 9-15% of their applicants.

Be sure to check out StudentAid.gov's college finder.

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