Abstract: A system for optimizing selection of a college or university and a method for utilizing the system. The system includes a college planning questionnaire, college planning questionnaire software, and a college action plan. The college planning questionnaire collects data about a student's interests, aptitude, abilities, talents, and school selection preferences, and information about finances of the family from both the parents and the student. The college planning questionnaire software assists the student in filling out the college planning questionnaire by helping identify appropriate areas of interest or specific college majors by interactively conducting a battery of tests in order to perform a thorough analysis of the likes and dislikes of the student.