Ignoring College Rankings to Find My No. 1 School Eric Eichel-berger, a student at Marist School in Atlanta, is one of eight high school seniors blogging about their college searches. Where did senior year go? I feel like someone pressed a fast-forward button from August to April. I blinked, and my college application process was over - except for the decision. In October and November, when I was rushing to meet my school's counseling office deadlines for applications, I felt entirely unsure which schools I would be lucky enough to compare come April. I remember asking my counselor, my parents and my teachers which schools to consider and which ones to drop. Having visited barely any schools, I spent hours flipping through books and searching through Web sites, trying to find my match. Months later, I'm overjoyed, presented with the blessing of 11 great options. And I find myself going back to the books, back to the Internet and back to the adults and friends who have advised me on my decision. And while I don't necessarily look forward to the task of boiling down my list to the one school I can attend next year, it's certainly an exciting process, too, as I learn more and begin deciding my future. Still, a decision must be made - I can only choose one school come May 1. And with that in mind, it's time to start narrowing my list. Remembering why I want to go to college in the first place is essential to this goal. While, for now, I want to study film, that could so easily change that simply picking the best film program among my options would be unwise. That said, an environment that provides creative opportunities for film, theater and art would be best; another reason I am looking forward to college is the creative collaboration that living in such a community will offer. Furthermore, college is a time of social and personal growth, so I have to evaluate which school has the right social atmosphere, the best location and the right culture for me. Easier said than done. Even on the visits I've been fortunate enough to make, it is always difficult to ascertain the true personality of a school. I'm learning to accept that, as with any decision, my college choice will rely on guesswork and intuition as much as on pro/con lists and factual comparisons. Another very important task is to compare various special opportunities at certain schools. My parents and I have been heavily discussing my scholarships at University of Georgia, Emory and Tulane. We have also weighed paying much more tuition against exploring a new part of the country, which has been difficult. And to what extent would being a John Jay Scholar at Columbia or a Cornell Tradition Fellow open up opportunities that being "just another undergraduate" somewhere else wouldn't? I need to research these special programs more to see how far they tip the scales. Lastly, I'm doing my best to remember that the best school for me is not necessarily the one with the highest rankings. 1 school is not necessarily the same as my No. Whatever my final choice, I know I can't really go wrong and can't wait to start college next year. And with that frame of mind, I am ready to begin making the pro/con lists, the visits and the tough decisions that will guide me toward shrinking my list until the best match for me becomes clear. Mr. Eichelberger, a student at Marist School in Atlanta, is one of eight seniors blogging about their college searches for The Choice until May. To comment on what Mr. Eichelberger has written here, please use the comment box below.