He also assessed his personal likes and dislikes, realizing that he wanted to be close to home and to duplicate the same kind of comfortable feeling he'd had in high school. Basically, he was looking for a home away from home. Take advantage of courses and teachers who can coach you through the college application process. The disappointing football season that scratched Adam's hopes of a scholarship at the college he thought he wanted could have been a big stumbling block. Instead, he sought more options and kept on going.
Personal contact pays off.
Adam didn't hesitate to pick up the phone and call deans and coaches at colleges he was considering. Not content to just send letters, he got his name in front of them while pumping them for information. Visit each campus you're really serious about and know what you're looking for. Adam looked at the campus surroundings and checked out class sizes. He wanted to make sure teachers would know him by name.