There are many decisions to make along the way, often beginning as early as the second year of high school. These are just a few of the questions you'll be asking during the latter part of high school. Don't try to undertake this process alone. There are many useful resources available and it is in your teen's best interests to use them. As a starting point, get all the help that's available at your teen's school.
Some schools have special college counselors while others use guidance counselors.
If neither of these resources is available, request advice from teachers or the principal. Take advantage of computer programs that can be found at many public libraries that help teens match their needs with particular colleges. And don't forget about the Internet. The online resources to help high school students prepare for applying to college is absolutely overwhelming. Free services and information run the gamut from personalized calendars for juniors and seniors with important dates and deadlines to matchmaker search services where students fill out a profile of achievements and preferences and then are provided with a list of schools that match their criteria.