The best way to make the collegiate system work for you if you are a developing distance runner (very good but not a blue chipper yet):
1) Work hard in high school at both academics and running. If one has to suffer because of the other let it be your running. The goal is to get an academic scholarship. This gives you the most flexability and is key to your collegiate running success.
2) Once you have decided where you want to go to school schedule an appointment with the track/cross country coach.
3) Let the coach know that you are receiving an academic scholarship so you will not be costing him/her any scholarship money.
4) Work with the coach to establish a game plan for your year. Remember you are not on his payroll (athletic scholarship) and any points you get him at conference are free to him. From this vantage point let him/her know you really want to run cross country then train through the winter (rather than run 8 indoor meets) in the hopes of getting the team some points in the conference 5k or 10k in spring.
5) Since you are free to him/her, he/she should be somewhat receptive to your plans, especially if you are good enough to get him points in the 5k or 10k and help the XC team. (If not consider where else you may want to go or run on your own talk to some coaches about running in their meets unattached)
By paying for your schooling with an academic scholarship rather than a athletic scholarship you have greater control and flexibility in your development as a distance runner. You may then be able to avoid the problem many developing collegiate distance runners have (especially the ones who are good but not yet NCAA championship level yet), that is over racing. Most D-1 schools have their distance runners run 5-8 cross country races (8k-10k) then 8-12 indoor races (mile to 5k in 6 to 8 meets), then run another 6 to 8 outdoor races (1500 to 10k's in 5 to 6 meets). That is 20-25 races over a 36 week period so there is very little consitent training going on (more tapering and recovery than anything) and its that consistent training that builds and develops good distance runners.
If you can at least break-up the year into 2 nine or ten week racing seasons that gives you two 15-20 week blocks for consistent training.
By contacting the coach early and setting up a years game plan you can also help avoid those meets where you get stuck running 2 or 3 1500 legs on relays and instead plan out 4 or 5 races leading to a peak at conference (or whatever) at the end of each 9 week racing cycle.
Give it some thought.