python38

@aak: What's that meant to mean? Don't people ever get out and about where you live, lol?

zap

I think it is about vibes. In my opinion, the campus should be nice, and it should have a good student life. Then, it would come to academic strength in a major.

AT9

I don't think it's any particular one of those, but a combination of several of them.... and of course, it depends on individual circumstances as to which factor carries the most weight. I think it's a combination of:

Overall prestige, strength within your major, cost, good "vibe," and location.

For me, it was basically a combination of strength within my major, cost, and location. I didn't get great vibes, but they were just as good as the vibes I got anywhere else. And prestige was a factor in my decision as well. UMinn doesn't quite carry the weight that other top publics like UMich and UC-Berkeley do, but the fact that it's well respected and a major research institution were big positives for me.

congruentangles

If you can't pay for it why would any other measure matter?

tk21769

Assuming somebody can pay for it, and if I had to pick only one factor, which is hard, then I think it would be this:
the availability of excellent teachers to teach undergraduates in small classes.

Other important factors include a student body matched to your abilities, good facilities, and academic programs in your area of interest. A good social life, decent climate and location are nice to have.

Any of these can be compromised, up to a point, without necessarily preventing a good education. But if you don't have good teachers, or if the good ones do not teach undergraduates, or if you only see them in huge lecture classes, then forget it. You are there for a credential, not an education.

Danniobsessed55

Well i definitely dont want to go somewhere that would not accomidate my educational needs. I want to be a writer social scientist and professor, so why would i go to business school? Seems that a lot of people agree with me! YAY~!

Danniobsessed55

Thats exactly what i'm saying!

BananaSandwich15

I think your comfort level is the most important. if u feel good with the school and in the atmosphere u'll have fun and learn.

Whistle Pig

Funny, I'd say it's 180 deg ...i.e. one's discomfort level that's most important.

More specifically, the most important factor is that which one projects may correlate with whatever enables, empowers, facilitates, etc. an individual's greatest growth which connotes with "change." So that means it will be different things for different persons.

Sadly, way too many do precisely what Banana implies ...making their top choice that place where they feel most comfy, at ease, coincident.

The partnering, all important question is really, how much do I desire to grow, stretch, become more of or different from he/she who I am.

But reality is often driven by where I will feel most comfortable, at ease, like the others there.

SVMMom

Look at the courses offered!!!!!!!!

The school may "feel" great and sound awesome, but if they do not offer enough of the types of courses you want then what is the point?

After all, you are there to take classes, not just to look at the buildings or eat the food.

talla349

prestige is NOT the most important factor.... and though i realize this is unrealistic, should never be a factor at all! you have to live at the college you chose for FOUR YEARS... its very important you pick somewhere where you think you'll be happy and fit in. in terms of reputation, harvard is far more renowned than a school like boston college, but in reality, the academic experience and resources you have access to is very simliar. on the other hand, the social scene, amount of school spirit, and general additude of the students at the two schools is VERY different (trust me on this, i have close friends who are current students at both!). generally speaking, the difference between the #2 ranked school in the nation and the #29 ranked school is almost non-existant. so forget repuation and pick a school that you will LOVE.... you only get to go to college once!

Duke99

yeah just waht i thought the polls would be

MBA Grad 2009

I just graduated with my MBA, and I wish I had known when I was 18 what I knew when I went back to school at 46. I don't want to make anyone unhappy, but your degree is a key that will open doors .. but only some of them. Where you go to school and how you apply yourself to your studies will matter a lot more than you might think. I have opinions on what is best for my background, but no one - and I mean NO ONE - will know what's best for you better than you can decide for yourself, if you do the work to find out what you need to know. First rule, is know what you want to do, and ask people in that business what schools they prefer. If you don't go to those schools, you WILL get less money and fewer offers, fact of life. But you also need a school which supports you and makes your life no harder than it has to be - stay away from party schools, but make sure you know what the atmosphere will be like. You want a place you can survive, but tough enough that you will know that not just anybody can get through there.

Junie

1. Location/Climate (arent they essentially the same thing?)
2. Geography: far away enough from home.
3. Good Vibes
4. Potential Scholarships etc
5. Academics
5. Prestige
6. Athletics

-applying SCEA Stanford fall 09

archi92

I think the best is that you feel it's where you can learn (Academics) but in the same time you can feel like home.(Vibes) And what can guarantee you a good job when you graduate.