I would suggest going to
http://www.jetcareers.com and doing a search for this topic - there is a ton of information from a lot of great people who have been there and done it.
I've been flying with my dad in his Super Cub since I was about 6. I solo'd on my 16th b-day, license at 17, built time in my dads Super Cub/flight school airplanes, got my degree last year and am working toward my goal of making it a career. I just earned my instrument rating (am 24 now), and should have the commercial in a few weeks, already have the required hours, just need to take the written and checkride. I plan to go the CFI route to the airlines. Over the years I've met a lot of great contacts that are willing to help me out in any way they can - aviation is a relatively small community, and knowing the right people will get you a job, so constantly network.
I would start out by visiting local FBO's and seeing what kind of operation they have, see what kind of airplanes they fly, prices, and get to know some of the instructors, ask questions. Once you find an FBO that you'd like to train at, talk with different instructors here and there and get a feel for them - picking the right instructor is one of the most important first steps to your flight training. Different instructors obviously have different personalities and reasons for instructing - some are just there to build time as #1 and teaching is #2, be wary of them, not to say that someone that says they're building time for the airlines is a bad choice for an instructor - but get a feel for them. Someone who comes across as enthusiastic about aviation, seems to enjoy teaching and has a good reputation at the flight school would be an excellent choice.
Make a list of questions you'd like to ask different instructors - see how each responds. Questions like, why do you like to fly? What are your plans after flight instructing? How long have you been flying? What type of flying have you done? Do you enjoy teaching? What do you like about flight instructing? etc.
Remember that your first taste of aviation is largely shaped by the demeanor of your instructor and the environment in which you learn to fly. If you have bad experiences with a bad instructor or flight school, then you may have a sour taste for aviation as a whole. Remember, flying should be fun and enjoyable, especially for a new student - you'll learn over time the sometimes harsh realities that are inherant to aviation, but it's important that you enjoy your primary training. The right instructor will create a challenging and enjoyable learning environment which will ensure that your first experiences with aviation are positive.
Also remember that there will be times that you may get frustrated or discouraged, and feel like "it" may never click. Make sure you communicate well with your instructor, let him know how you feel, ask him if maybe he'd explain or demonstrate something differently - not everyone learns the same way. If, after a few flights something doesn't "click" - ask your instructor if he'd mind you flying with another instructor, different instructors have different methods of teaching the same material - what might work for one student from one instructor may not necessarily work well for the other.
If you get settled in with one instructor, try to remain with that instructor through the duration of your training - it will save time and money, assuming he is a good match for your learning style. If you bounce around to different instructors, you will likely end up spending more time and money, because you'll likely end up covering the same material with different instructors as they get a feel for just how competent you are/how much you've learned so far, and each instructor may want to see a certain maneuver completed in a slightly different way than another instructor. However, if you feel that your instructor is slowing your progress, does not have you in their best interest, or does not seem to be the right match for you, then don't hesitate to bring up the issue with him/her and tell them that you'd like to try a different instructor, they will understand.
Make sure that your schedule and that of your flight instructor will mesh well - try to fly as often as possible, it will really reduce the time spent to get your license. I'd say try to fly at least twice a week. If you take long breaks in between flights, you'll be surprised how rusty you may be on the next flight - and may have to spend time going over some of the same material again. Remember to study the material that you'll be covering on your next lesson, be prepared, it will save time/money and make it easier for both you and your instructor. Instead of spending time on the ground going over material that you should have already had a grasp on, you'll be able to hop into the plane and go fly. However, if you have questions over the material that you studied prior to the lesson then certainly ask questions.
Like I said there is a lot to learn and it may seem overwhelming at first, but try not to get discouraged - study the books, prepare for your lessons, communicate with your instructor, and don't be afraid to ask questions. If you do all of that then you should have a very enjoyable flight training experience.
I'd reccomend going to a part 61 FBO school to get your ratings, buckle down, study hard and fly often. It will be much cheaper than attending the very expensive aviation colleges/airline pilot programs.
Here's some links I found with some good information - I'd reccomend browsing through the Flight Training Magazine archives, lots of great articles for student pilots.
http://flighttraining.aopa.org/members/ft_magazine/archives/view_contents.cfmPicking a Flight School
http://flighttraining.aopa.org/learntofly/school/http://flighttraining.aopa.org/learntofly/overview/learning.cfmPicking an instructor
http://4vfr.com/?goto=instructor§ion=learn-to-flyhttp://flymeaway.vox.com/library/post/the-tough-choices-picking-a-flight-school-picking-an-instructor.htmlLearning Beyond the Lesson
http://flighttraining.aopa.org/members/ft_magazine/archives/article.cfm?article=5806When Will I Solo?
http://flighttraining.aopa.org/members/ft_magazine/archives/article.cfm?article=5621Why do some students quit?
http://flighttraining.aopa.org/members/ft_magazine/archives/article.cfm?article=5622How hard is learning to fly?
http://flighttraining.aopa.org/members/ft_magazine/archives/article.cfm?article=5620The most important lesson
http://flighttraining.aopa.org/members/ft_magazine/archives/article.cfm?article=5620Long post, hope it helped! Good luck with everything, aviation is one of the most challenging and rewarding activities one can do, and few ever get the chance to experience it. If you get your license, you'll be among the one-half of one percent of the population that are pilots.

Remember, the four forces of flight are lift (dreams), weight (reality), thrust (money) and drag (the FAA)
- Rick