lintu

I think that something that many people deciding what school to attend forget is that they're going to be living at that school for 4-5 years, possibly away from their family, and that no matter the prestige or that reputation of the place, you have to feel at home to make the years count. For me, that and the strength of my major were tied.

RootBeerCaesar

It's all connections - it's nice to be a Harvard Business Graduate but it means absolutely nothing unless you make the right friends at college. No person gets a good job by simply merit alone. Most people though who go to the Ivy League schools make strong connections which is why they are successful, even though most of them aren't that smart.

vossron

"No person gets a good job by simply merit alone."

Do you want to hear a bazillion people say "I did."? I did. I knew nobody at my first great job, and no connection helped me get it. Connections can certainly help some people, especially those who cannot make it by merit alone; that point is valid.

SkyGirl

Scholarships and merit aid. Good aid. I do not care about anything else.
However, I want an intellectual environment hopefully. The academics should be challenging.

trey1105

did I feel comfortable with the people whom go their,
followed by academic strength as the college overall because I might change my mind on majors as a lot of kids do.

Iildimsum7

i'd say prestige. my cousin went to harvard and got some magna cum laude thing then he went to stanford and now he makes like 5 mil per year.

luurynx

prestige, major, location. i want to be in nyc.

i doubt many people would have checked this one even if it were on the list, but socioeconomic, racial, and geographical diversity. if there must be affirmative action, i might as well try to reap its benefits.

Lori1122

ha, i feel like a loser picking the most popular answer.. without knowing it...

RootBeerCaesar

Prestige and Connections - Those are the most important for later success in life, and all the other factors are so minor that its just what spoils you.

I think the fact we're even thinking about "selecting" colleges already makes us the upper crust of student society, because remember that the great majority of students have no real choice in their college. I dont think anyone likes going to Community College or a crappy school - they go there so they arent homeless on the street in 5 years.

dcd

Location! (I guess "good vibes" works too, but that's kinda vague... plus it also goes along with location)

1) that's where you're going to be for four years! For instance, you can be in Los Angeles without being at UCLA, but you can't be at UCLA without being in Los Angeles. You can be in Hanover, NH without being at Dartmouth, but you can't be at Dartmouth without being in Hanover.

2) As more people realize this, certain places will draw a certain type of person by virtue of location. If you want to go somewhere, chances are you'll get along pretty well with others who want to go there for the same reason.

3) What they don't tell you is most jobs and companies won't take you seriously if you aren't local.

Everyone's saying that academic strength in intended major is most important, which is admirable, but I honestly don't believe that most people really know what they want to do when they turn 18. They say students, on average, change their major 5 times anyway, so I really believe that most people who say this are just saying it as a loophole so they won't have to say they're a prestige whore. :\

ClaySoul

I agree with you about intended major -- most people will change their major. But that doesn't change that people want a good program in what they at least think they want to study. This might not be the best approach, because they may change their major, but you can understand where they are coming from. Perhaps a better thing to do would be academic strength in an area, such as the natural sciences, or something.

I really disagree with you about location, however. Location is a plus to any school (that is, if it's a good one) and can be a deal breaker if it's a terrible one, but ultimately, most college students spend most of their time on campus and within the community built there. I dont think location attracts a certain kind of student nearly as much as the atmosphere of the school itself, it's goals, its philosophies, etc.

destined2bme

you have to think about your whole entire future. At the beginning of my jr year, I told my counselor that I wanted California or Florida ( i go to school in VA). BUt then I realized, I want a to work/have a life on th east coast, simply because of proximity to my family and other opportunities. Picking a college because it is "sunny" will only feel right for the short term, you have to take your professional life into consideration.

Bennie

1) What your parents want.

2) What USN&WR thinks.

3) What CCers think.

4) Your gut. Caveat: You have a 2300 SAT, #2 Class rank, and ECs from here til tomorrow, but you still can't figure out what's good for you.

vossron

Bennie, your first three jokes are good, but 4) is somewhat realistic!

BobbyJan

USNWR, don't go to a third tier college when you can go to a second tier or else your life is ruined.