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Throughout my junior and senior year, I was pretty much a neurotic mess on the verge of spontaneously combusting at any given moment.

The college search literally kept me up at night; Collegeboard.com was my best friend at 2 a.m.

Now that I have gone through the process and gotten through my first year at a college I love, I realize that all my stress was unnecessary.

It's a big step and it is alright to freak out about college a little bit, maybe even more than just a little bit.

But having a complete melt-down whenever someone mentioned the word "university" is a no-no.

Here are the top five things I wish I knew before starting the college search.

1.You do not have to apply to every single school imaginable: I had a friend who applied to over twenty schools, and most of them were schools she would not actually attend even if she was accepted. Application and score-sending fees can get expensive. Apply to your favorite schools and have a couple of solid back-up choices.

2.Do not overlook schools because of preconceived notions: There was one school that I did not even apply to because I thought it was an "easy school." But after visiting the school, I realized it was a great place that had a lot to offer. It does not always matter what reputation a school has. You are in charge of your college education. You make the school.

3.Visit schools, without your friends: I went on a college trip with my high school class. At first, I based my top school choices on what my friends liked. But the friends you have now are not necessarily the friends you'll have forever. Visiting schools without your friends allows you to see clearly and avoid being persuaded by the majority. After revisiting schools with just my parents, I was able to make an independent choice about the school was right for me.

4.Think about money but do not freak out: This may be a given but to me it wasn't. I assumed that my parents and student loans would cover the bill. When I realized that my dream school would literally cost me an arm, a leg and even a kidney, I panicked. You don't want to graduate college already in massive debt. Apply to big schools but know that the most expensive schools aren't necessarily the best. You can still get your dream job without going to Harvard. Plus, there's always grad school to think about.

5.Everything will eventually work out: I had a difficult time accepting this. I am not one to sit on the sidelines and wait for things to happen. Yet while being proactive is great, sometimes the best thing you can do is wait and relax. After you pick your top schools and send out your applications, do not second guess yourself. Trust that you made the best decision and enjoy the rest of your time in high school. College is an exciting and life-changing experience no matter where you go.