One of the finest colleges in the country is adding a new course. In this required course, seniors would look back on their four years of college and write about what they've learned. They would also create something -- a portfolio of art, a computer program, a public program -- to show that their knowledge can be made to improve the quality of life.

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Many colleges and high schools already offer this kind of course, commonly called a 'capstone' course, since it's supposed to be the last thing a student does before school is officially over. But this college doesn't plan on calling it a capstone; they're going to call in something like "next steps", to indicate the course really isn't designed to be a sentimental, academic stroll through the last four years -- it's more of a study session designed to prep the student for the real final exam, called life.

While the title may seem like a little thing, it's important to keep in mind as a different group of seniors -- those in high school -- are close to deciding what college they will commit to. Most college-bound seniors have put a lot of thought into their college choice -- but as the May 1st deadline draws near, little things can hijack the best-laid, well thought out decisions like a spike mark can throw off a Tiger Woods putt:

     "I decided to go where my girlfriend is going."

      "They offered me a full ride scholarship."

     "They called my house eight times to ask if I had any questions."

These ideas can be part of the reason to choose a college -- but they shouldn't be the whole package. It's great a college is calling you; but a better sign of that care is the quality of the answers you get when you actually ask a question. If the caller doesn't know the answer, and they don't get call you back to follow-up, doesn't that say something, too? Plus, if you actually don't have any questions, does that say something about your interest in the college?

It's also great to have someone pay for college for you -- especially in this economy. But it's not uncommon for colleges to offer money to students who are at the top of the college's class -- in other words, there may not be many students there who have the grades you do. If you get a full ride offer, look closely at the course offerings -- not for freshmen year, but for senior year. If the frosh classes look hot, but the academic tank is empty by year three or four, this may not be the school for you -- at least not for four years.

The girlfriend argument is more about head than heart -- if your true love can get you to wear a yellow tux to prom, she can probably coax you to the college of her choice without much effort. Do your relationship a favor, and visit the college campus one more time -- without her. Look at majors, housing, food, and the social life like you were single, then ask yourself -- is this the best college choice for the one of you? If not, it's time to talk.

The poet was right -- April is the cruelest month, because you're sick of thinking about college and you just want to have fun. I get that -- but if you're willing to trade in a day or two of fun now for a lifetime of happiness, you'll see how important it is to see the bigger picture, and prepare yourself for the next steps of college and beyond.