| Most college bound students find the prospect of | | | | Are you thinking big? Or do you prefer something |
| finding and applying to the right school a real | | | | much more manageable? Colleges come in all shapes |
| challenge. Peer pressure from your friends and family | | | | and sizes, from a school in New Hampshire that |
| can make the prospect of an objective search seem | | | | enrolls less than 100 students to a school like Penn |
| impossible. Even with a variety of opinions about your | | | | State that can enroll 30,000 or more. Which is |
| future being discussed, don't despair. Find the right | | | | better? That depends on your preferences. |
| college for you is easier than you think. | | | | Do you like being places where everybody knows |
| The first step in finding the right college is to consider | | | | you, or do you like the anonymity of a crowd? You |
| key selection criteria. Here are a number of criteria to | | | | might even want to think about how far you want |
| consider when making a college choice. Remember | | | | to walk between classes. Large schools typically have |
| that even once you've narrowed down your options, | | | | large campuses, as well as a healthy selection of |
| nothing beats an actual campus visit. | | | | student services and things to do. On the other hand, |
| Location, Location, Location. | | | | a smaller college may offer individualized attention, as |
| So where do you want to go? Obviously, academics | | | | well as a more intimate and personalized experience |
| play a huge role in determining the right school for | | | | for each student. |
| you, but so does location. Are you looking for an | | | | College Type |
| exotic location or something close to home? What | | | | Despite popular belief, all college are different. Some |
| are your hobbies? Will you be in a location that allows | | | | devote much of their time and resources to research. |
| you to continue doing what you most enjoy doing? | | | | Others focus their attention on teaching and learning. |
| Are you looking for a rural setting or an urban one? | | | | Some have a specialty in one area, while others are |
| Start your college planning with the type of location | | | | known for providing students a broad end enriching |
| that you will be most happy with. This can have a | | | | education. Other differences to consider include |
| tremendous impact on your experience and can do a | | | | whether schools are single sex or coed, if have a |
| lot to help you narrow your choices. | | | | religious affiliation. There are a variety of colleges |
| If you've always lived in the suburbs, an urban | | | | that focus on a particular ethnicity. Your options are |
| campus can result in culture shock. After a few | | | | almost limitless and your personal learning style, |
| weeks, you may be in need of grassy fields and | | | | preferences, and available resources will help you find |
| open space. On the other hand, if you're used to | | | | the place where you will best succeed. |
| malls and movie theaters and choose a college in a | | | | There are many factors to consider when deciding |
| rural area, will you be racing into the student center | | | | where you want to go to college. Begin by |
| at midnight, desperately seeking noise, lights, and | | | | considering location, campus size, and type. By |
| people? Think about where you grew up and how | | | | knowing the kind of university you wish to attend, |
| much of a change you want. | | | | you can narrow your choices and focus on curriculum |
| Campus Size | | | | and affordable options. |