There are around 5,300 colleges in the United States today. If there are 50 majors to pick from at each college (I made that number up - it's often higher), the possibilities are endless.
It's easy to get caught up in the hype: will my daughter get a job in four years if she picks that college/major? Will she want to change majors? Are we missing out on a better option somewhere else? Is she going to be happy, safe, and successful?
It's the product of a culture with too many options. And as we know, too many options leads to paralysis: I'll put off making a decision because I don't want to make the "wrong" decision. Instead of the college search being an enjoyable process, it becomes something to avoid.
When I was 17 and picking a college, my mom took me to see Fredonia and one other college. I used the same application to apply. I ultimately chose Fredonia because I liked the way the campus made me feel. Everything worked out fine.
Is that an oversimplification? Probably. But it sure beats the alternative.
(More on picking a good college volleyball program)
(More on how freedom of choice is making us unhappy - Barry Schwartz's TED Talk, The Paradox of Choice)