In determining the right type of school, you have to take academics into account first and foremost. Do not compromise on your academic experience just to play sports in college. Recognize that it's not all about sports scholarships.

The odds of playing professional sports after college are slim. It's far more likely that after college you'll have to take your smarts out into the world and get a job.

That said, you might be someone who values sports so much that you are only willing to go to a school where you'll be able to play. It may mean compromising your Ivy League academic qualifications to play soccer at the University of Jupiter's Twelfth Moon.

The good news is that colleges are so numerous and diverse that if you look hard enough you can find the right mix of athletics and academics. For example, if you're qualified for schools within a certain academic tier, but aren't the greatest athlete, you might have to consider the weaker teams within that tier.

If this is the case, you should research conferences comprised of schools with strong academics but less-strong athletics.