Visit the colleges on your list from Step 5
The best way to really get a feel for a college is by visiting the campus, taking a tour, meeting with students, attending a class, reading the campus newspaper, eating in the cafeteria, and spending the night in a dorm (if possible). You have to feel "at home" at the place where you will spend the next four years of your life, so visiting is important.
For more information and strategies, read the article, How to Make the Most of Your Campus Visit. If some schools on your list are just too far away to make a trip, then at least take a virtual tour of the campus and try to talk to people who have attended the school to get a feel for it. CampusTours.com is a great place for links to virtual tours and college Webcams.