RESEARCHING COLLEGES   Before beginning your college search, consider the basic characteristics you are looking for in a school. Find out not only if they offer the major or program that you want, but also how strong that program is, in comparison to other schools. Is the location suited to you? Consider the distance from home (and associated travel expenses), the climate, the setting (urban, suburban, rural), and the size of the student population. Look closely at descriptions of student life, campus activities and organizations. How diverse is the student body? Is the sociopolitical environment liberal, mixed or conservative? Some colleges have a specific focus: all men/all women, Historically Black colleges, or religiously affiliated schools (which may require religion courses and attendance at services).  Other practical considerations include public versus private colleges. Public colleges, run by each States' government and partially funded by their taxpayers, have lower tuition for residents. Out-of-state tuition may still be less than at many private colleges. But while private colleges are generally more expensive, costs vary greatly among them. These schools typically have endowments, enabling them to extend private financial aid in addition to Federal and State aid. Finally, consider the selectivity of the different schools. They take into account the student's grade point average, class rank, test scores and the rigor of the classes selected by the student.   HOW TO START 1. Talk to friends, family, teachers, counselors and clergy. Do they know any schools that might fit your needs? 2. Visit the Higher Education Center at the Boston Public Library to browse catalogs, view books and videos/CDs. 3. Use the internet to access college web sites and virtual tours, and online search programs such as www.collegeboard.com and www,petersons.com 4. Visit as many colleges as you can; ask about tours, overnight programs and open houses. 5. Attend college fairs and career days. Pick up brochures and fill out inquiry cards so schools can send you information. 6. Talk to people whose careers interest you. Ask how they prepared for that career, where they went to college and ask them for suggestions.   Once you have all this information you can start narrowing down your college list. You may have looked at 50 schools; you should end up with a serious list of 8-10. Include 1-2 "reach" schools (schools you would love to go to if you could get in), 1-2 "safety" schools (where you are certain you will be accepted and would use as a backup) and the rest "realistic" schools (which seem to match up pretty well with your qualifications). When choosing your schools, be honest with yourself. Look critically at your qualifications and compare them to those of each school's requirements, and the characteristics of last year's entering class. Generally colleges will be evaluating you based on: 1. Breadth and depth of courses taken. 2. GPA 3. Sat I/SAT II test scores 4. Class rank 5. Teacher and counselor recommendations 6. Depth of involvement in activities, volunteer work and work experience    (They expect to see all three) 7. The quality and sincerity of your essays and personal statement 8. The neatness, completeness and accuracy of your application