lockn

What about the student body?

zhangjin199206

For international student money is important. US education is hard to afford.

helen_mes

For all of current high school students, still trying to find out where to start in this crazy race, consider reading this article. It is about choosing to which colleges to apply based on many different criteria. College Search 101:

How to Chose Schools for Your College Application List - Associated Content - associatedcontent.com

akaibutterfly

campus food. if you go up to a certain level in the level of "academic reputation" they're all the same. good buildings, good teachers, respect from others.
but hey, people gotta eat even in college and might as well get good food, right?

i'm applying to cornell and ucla just for their food =)

Scott808

The chicks

Stitchpunk4

It's not the size or the length of the dreadlocks on the head of the rastaman that defines the vibrations.

fuzzyfirebunny

Figures, typical CC. "prestige" is the second most important factor..lol

lko629

Good vibes...felt at home.
hands down. that was the ONLY thing that mattered to me, besides that it had to offer education as a major which most schools do.

brysia

A school that offers something that you are looking for and no other school has it: a combination or rare major, study abroad from first year forward and low cost.

JohnZmirak

Up through the mid-1970s, most colleges required a serious "core curriculum" that covered the key areas of knowledge important to being an educated citizen and participant in Western Civilization. Harvard led the charge in junking these requirements, which most schools went on to do--in the name, supposedly, of multiculturalism. But in fact, Western Civilization is as much the heritage of African-Americans, and immigrants who have chosen to live in the West, as it is the inheritance of that tiny percentage of Americans descended from the social elites. Teaching the Core to masses of newly educated people was a great populist, democratic initiative, which when it was abandoned gave way to consumerism, narrow specialization, and mediocrity.

As editor of "Choosing the Right College" (Intercollegiate Studies Institute), I use as my first criterion in evaluating a school whether it imposes a Core Curriculum, or at least decent General Education requirements.

dannav147

definitely the vibes...USC has a program i like but the vibe....not good. UCSB on the other hand, seemed good.

mertz36

I'm looking for a college/university with a strong geography department. So I can continue in a graduate program. Also, it needs to be close to a major ski area.

aronofsky4life

Lol - prestige. Welcome to cc, prestige whore capital of the world.

ClarityR

Oh dear, for all of you who really mean "prestige," so very sad. Your undergraduate experience is a time for growth, yes intellectual, but also very definitely social and emotional. There is time enough later on for honing your professional swords. You need to choose a place where you can be yourself--and become even more yourself.

Take it from an old hand with three degrees and a professional qualification whose educational experiences included Vassar, Harvard, and the University of London: prestige means very little. My most outstanding educational experiences were not at any of those institutions. Better to pursue an undergraduate education that adds to your foundation as a human being and world citizen, enriches your personal growth and development, and is a source of inspiration and FUN.

You are living your life--who in the world cares how others view you? Go for quality of life.

vonlost

I don't see any way around affordability being the most important factor. If you can't pay the bill with some combination of savings, earnings, loans, gifts, financial aid and merit scholarships, nothing else matters. After that it's fit, an overused term, but still crucial: the right academic match, a size, location and culture you like, availability of majors you think you might want. Although imperfect, overnight/classroom visits can be quite valuable for finding pros and cons of a school. Sit down in the cafeteria with a group of students and identify yourself as a prospie; see how they react.