A self-help guide for junior and senior high school athletes is presented to help them choose colleges and avoid mistakes that may affect their lives as well as their athletic careers. Stories of the good/bad experiences of athletes are included. For the college-bound student, information is included on admissions, grades, college entrance tests, and college facilities and other considerations. The campus visit and questions to ask the head coach are addressed, including the rules of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) concerning recruitment along with issues for student-athletes being recruited to play in college, and reasons to avoid boosters. Problems inherent in athletes' involvement with gamblers and the extent of drug and alcohol abuse among high school students and the effects are discussed, including the cases of real-life athletes. Issues concerning women's athletics are also considered. A resource section covers standardized test guides, financial aid application, names and addresses of groups helpful in combatting drug and alcohol or gambling abuse, the "NCAA Guide fo the College-Bound Student Athlete," and the services of women's sports organizations. (SW)