Heightened college admissions competition has sent the test prep and admissions counseling market into overdrive. At $160-$300 an hour, freelance college admissions experts are certainly high-priced, but they can rattle off schools you've never heard of, they know what GPA/SAT mix it takes to get in, and they know that while a 4.0 and some swell extra-curriculars may have been sufficient to get into UC Berkeley or an Ivy League school five years ago, it'll be a tough sell now.

In short, they provide a much-needed reality check when your child's - or your - ambitions outstrip his GPA.

But with a little research and a level head, your family can assemble a fantastic, tailor-made list of colleges to consider - and choose a great school that's a perfect fit - and it won't cost you a dime. (In college counselor fees, anyway.) Here’s how:

1. Start by sitting your child down with his GPA and test scores, and an online college search generator, such as Princeton Review's Counselor-o-matic or College Board's College Matchmaker. These list generators crunch his academic background - high school data, types of classes (advanced placement vs. just enough to get by) and extra-curriculars - together with his preferences on college environment. Don’t worry. Your child will quickly discover that he actually does have preferences as he answers the questions. Then hit "submit" and let the computer churn out a list of 8-10 colleges that are good matches for him, “reach” schools and relatively safe bets.

1. Now do it again, but this time use the other list generator or broaden the search factors, allowing for slightly larger class sizes, for example, or a wider geographical swath.
2. Compare the lists and see if there are any gaping holes. Add any schools you think ought to be at least explored. Have your child talk to his school guidance or college counselor and get advice. You’re looking for schools similar to those on your list, but perhaps less well known. (Note: If no top tier schools emerged on your child's computer generated list, do not go adding Harvard, no matter how much you want him to go there.) Keep adding schools until you have 20 to 30. This is your family's "schools to research" list.
3. If your child is a prospective music or theater major or visual arts major, he will have additional considerations. Be sure to include his private music teacher, vocal coach or art instructor in the discussion of school possibilities. The conservatory search has its own challenges.
4. At this stage of the game, your child's final college possibilities list should have 20 to 30 names on it. Now, it's time for step 6: The Reality Check.