DaytonDailyNews.com

DAYTON — Filling out college applications was "pretty simple," said Tom O'Connell, a 17-year-old senior at Centerville High School. "The hardest part was really trying to figure out where to go."

Selecting potential schools also was difficult for Amy Merl, a fellow Centerville senior.

"My parents got me the huge mumbo jumbo book with every school listed in every state," said Merl, 17. "That was kind of overwhelming at first."

It's the season for high school seniors to submit college applications. Schools' deadlines vary, but the forms are usually due in February.

Choosing a college or university is like making a major purchase or investment, said Rob Durkle, University of Dayton vice president and dean of admissions.

"If you're buying a house, you're going to do a lot of research on that house before you invest in it," Durkle said. "The same goes with a college education these days. You should take some time to investigate what they have to offer."

The first challenge for families "is to identify what would be a good fit or match for my son or daughter," said Laurie Koehler, Miami University director of admissions.

Applying for college doesn't need to be so "anxiety-filled" for families, said Mabel Freeman, Ohio State assistant vice president for undergraduate admissions.

"There are more than 3,400 colleges and universities out there," Freeman said. "There is room for every student in this country who wants to go to college."

O'Connell and Merl narrowed their choices by visiting a number of campuses — a "critical" step, Koehler said.

O'Connell, who plans to study political science, has applied to Ohio University and the Ohio State University. Merl, who will study dance, has applied to seven schools in Ohio, Michigan, New York, North Carolina and Virginia.

Merl said some of her fellow seniors are still filling out their college applications, while others have started to receive acceptance letters. "Right now it's just exciting," Merl said. "It's the next step in our lives."