Mr.B

The most important factor is can you go there, if you could be accepted with full financial coverage, most people would pick a known school with decent dorm life. If you get accepted into a school and then can't afford it, then all you have is a story to tell.

penumbra

Shouldn't Prestige and overall academic ranking be separated?
And about prestige....
a lot of people do pick top LACs over HYPs/Ivies
(according to the Princeton Review "often/sometimes prefer" section)

soccerguy315

Honestly, if you pick a school based on "academic reputation" or "prestige" without looking at other things, like the social setting, you are not doing a good job choosing a school.

Some people can adapt anywhere, some people will be miserable at some schools. That's the way it is. Being miserable for 4 years is not worth going to "the best school in the whole country, OMG!!!!!!oneone!!!!11." If you're not happy, you won't do as well as you could. And it's time that you can never get back, time that many people think is the best of their lives.

Many people on this board have skewed perceptions on colleges, and reality as a whole...

patientlywaiting

1. location, location, location
2. must be in the top 100 National Universities list (i personally don't like LACs)
3. must have a football team, active greek life, good social scene

kinglin

Strong rank in business, and when I go there, I feel comfortable. That's all I really need.

Amused

"(according to the Princeton Review "often/sometimes prefer" section)"

The Princeton Review has decided to sacrifice accuracy in order to gain...um...well we don't know quite yet. But their numbers (or ambiguous descriptions) aren't very reliable. That being said, what you said is probably true.

allureNY86

PatientlyWaiting,

the top 100 list doesn't cut it for me. i'd have to go to SUNY Binghamton. but that's just me. some LACs are better than the top 100 ntl universities list.

but i totally agree with location being an extremely imp. factor.

lastbastion

The right fit between a particular student and a particular school.

celebrian25

I'm one of those people who has no problem throwing off a college I've fallen in love with when I find it doesn't meet one of my requirements. First, it has to be in the midwest or northeast, or somewhere where snow is very prevelant, and I can't do rural. Secondly, they MUST have my major, and I can't settle for less. Thirdly, they must not be stingy with merit aid/fin. aid. I am not in the position to pay a lot, and I've come to recognize this fact. These are by far the most important factors, both in selecting and choosing where I'll accept

allureNY86

oh wow, that sounds basically like me. except not midwest for me, but all of the above are like my requirements. lotsa money, no nearby farms, and my major. perfect.

Woodwork

Taken in its totality you should know what's good for you. Not Prestige, location, climate etc.
If you don't have the wherewithall to make an intuitive+objective judgement you are not mature enough to be left alone to make the decision.

A little sincerity might be in order.

Take care of your self, not your image.

pokapamaz

The importance of location is WAY, WAY underrated. I lived in a small college town with only about 150,000 people without a car, and I spent hundreds of hours stuck at bus stops. It took 60-120 minutes to drop my laundry to a cleaner and come back home. If you grew up with subway/rail systems or don't drive, be sure to apply only to colleges located in large cities! Even if the academic quality of the college is good, if you need to spend 2 hours just for getting food each day, no wonder it affects your academic performance. And too little entertainment can also lower your grades.

Enjoipaintball6

In response to Ubermensch on the first page, I hate Harvard. There are state schools that I would choose over Harvard, because I'm not the type of person who would attend school there. I hate Harvard and all it stands for. I think the most important factor is social environment, and whether you want to attend a party school, or a school where nothing ever happens.

Schwaby

Sports and athletics.

Yeah, I said it.