I cleared memory and gave ChatGPT the following prompt:
“Rank the best colleges in United States. Choose the criteria and weights that you think compose best college. List the top 10 in a table. Show the criteria composing the ranking in the columns.”
Next i tried a more specific ranking, with the following prompt.
What is the best college for a prospective electrical engineering major living in San Diego who is on a limited budget. The student is an above average student, but unlikely to be accepted to Ivy Plus colleges. List top 10 in a table.
Finally I entered my history, and asked what the best college was for me at age 18. I asked ChatGPT to choose the ranking criteria. This was the result.
I don’t like the idea of ranking colleges in general, but as far as rakings go, I think ChatGPT is one of the more useful ones, as it can be more easily customized to the specific individual. That said, there are obviously many flaws in the specific numbers assigned to the different criteria. It’s far from perfect. It might be more useful to get a list of colleges to research, rather than rank.
I can see that ChatGPT is getting smarter on each question! Since D24 attends UCB and wife and I graduated from UCSD! Looks like it’s usually correct in providing accurate rankings and information!
I asked this: Rate Liberal Arts colleges by friendliness. This is what I got:
Ranking liberal arts colleges by their “friendliness” can be quite subjective, as it depends on individual experiences, but several liberal arts colleges are consistently praised for their inclusive, supportive, and friendly campus environments. Friendliness often comes from a combination of student body culture, faculty approachability, campus atmosphere, and student engagement. Here are some of the best liberal arts colleges known for their friendly, welcoming environments:
Bates College
Culture & Friendliness: Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, is often lauded for its strong sense of community and warm, collaborative environment. The school promotes inclusivity and kindness among students, making it easy for newcomers to feel at home.
Student Body: Bates is known for its down-to-earth and supportive student body, where individuals are typically kind, open-minded, and eager to help each other out.
Oberlin College
Culture & Friendliness: Oberlin, located in Ohio, has a reputation for being one of the most welcoming campuses, with a strong emphasis on social justice, inclusivity, and creativity. The school fosters an environment of respect for diversity and individuality.
Student Body: Oberlin students are known for their progressive values, and the campus is very supportive, with students often forming tight-knit friendships and supporting one another in academic and social endeavors.
Hamilton College
Culture & Friendliness: Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, is known for its friendly and inclusive environment. The school promotes an open-door policy among faculty and students, and the small student body creates a close-knit community.
Student Body: Students here are often described as warm, genuine, and easy to connect with. Hamilton’s relaxed, non-competitive atmosphere fosters a strong sense of camaraderie among students.
College of the Holy Cross
Culture & Friendliness: Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, has a close-knit, welcoming community where students support one another both academically and socially. The school’s Jesuit tradition emphasizes values of respect, service, and care for others.
Student Body: Holy Cross students are often described as friendly and collaborative, with an emphasis on building strong, lifelong friendships.
Carleton College
Culture & Friendliness: Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, has a reputation for being one of the friendliest liberal arts colleges in the country. The campus culture is one of inclusivity, with students and faculty being supportive and approachable.
Student Body: Carleton students are often described as academically focused yet laid-back and easygoing. The culture encourages collaboration over competition, making it a very friendly environment for new students.
Williams College
Culture & Friendliness: Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, is known for having a close-knit and collaborative atmosphere. Despite its academic rigor, the school maintains a friendly and accessible culture where students help one another succeed.
Student Body: Williams students are supportive, humble, and down-to-earth, making it an easy place to feel welcomed and connected. The lack of a competitive atmosphere contributes to a generally friendly vibe.
Swarthmore College
Culture & Friendliness: Swarthmore in Pennsylvania is known for its intelligent and engaged student body, but it also has a reputation for being very approachable and friendly. The college has a deeply inclusive culture where students look out for each other and collaborate on both academic and extracurricular activities.
Student Body: Swarthmore students are welcoming, empathetic, and passionate about social justice, which fosters a positive, friendly atmosphere on campus.
Grinnell College
Culture & Friendliness: Grinnell College in Iowa is renowned for its openness and warm, supportive community. The small campus encourages students to build strong relationships and support one another, both inside and outside the classroom.
Student Body: Students here are friendly, quirky, and non-judgmental, making it an easy place to connect with others. Grinnell emphasizes individuality and inclusivity, so no one feels left out.
Wellesley College
Culture & Friendliness: Wellesley College in Massachusetts offers a strong, empowering, and close-knit environment, with students known for their kindness, inclusivity, and leadership qualities. It has a welcoming environment for women, with a focus on collaboration and mutual support.
Student Body: Wellesley students are known for being smart, but they are also approachable and supportive, fostering an atmosphere of friendliness and camaraderie.
Middlebury College
Culture & Friendliness: Middlebury College in Vermont has a strong sense of community, with students who are kind, approachable, and eager to collaborate. The school promotes a positive and inclusive atmosphere through its focus on sustainability, social justice, and global awareness.
Student Body: Middlebury students are described as warm, down-to-earth, and eager to make personal connections. The college’s focus on creating an open, welcoming environment makes it one of the friendliest schools in the Northeast.
Honorable Mentions:
Pomona College – Located in California, Pomona is known for its inclusive and welcoming community, with students often described as kind and open-minded.
Wheaton College (MA) – Known for its supportive campus and focus on building strong personal relationships between students and faculty.
Vassar College – Has a highly inclusive culture, with students creating a warm environment where everyone can find their community.
While the sense of friendliness can be highly subjective and based on individual experiences, these colleges consistently rank highly for their welcoming, supportive, and inclusive campus environments.
This is fun, but it is a parlor game and nothing more.
And sorry, but I also got this when I asked it to rank by least friendly students.
While the “least friendly” label is hard to definitively apply to specific colleges, as it is subjective and varies greatly depending on individual experiences, there are some universities that tend to have a more competitive or high-pressure environment, which can sometimes lead to perceptions of less approachable or less friendly student bodies. These environments may foster a more individualistic culture or a greater focus on academic or career success, which can impact the overall atmosphere on campus.
However, it is important to note that many factors can influence friendliness, and these observations do not apply universally to every student at these schools.
Here’s a list of colleges and universities where the culture is often described as more intense, competitive, or impersonal, which can sometimes lead to less perceived friendliness:
Harvard University
Environment: Harvard, due to its prestige and highly competitive atmosphere, can sometimes give off an impression of being less friendly. The immense pressure to succeed and high academic standards can make students more focused on their individual achievements than on forming close relationships.
Student Body: Some students report feeling that the intensity of the academic environment can result in less time for socializing or creating lasting friendships, though this is not true for all students.
Princeton University
Environment: Like Harvard, Princeton is known for its rigorous academic programs and an atmosphere that often emphasizes individual achievement. This can sometimes lead to a less socially warm or approachable culture, particularly in a highly driven, competitive environment.
Student Body: Students at Princeton are incredibly focused on their work, and while the campus is still welcoming in many ways, the pressure to perform academically can create a more serious or distant atmosphere.
Stanford University
Environment: Stanford is known for its innovation, entrepreneurship, and tech-driven culture. With a focus on career and academic success, some students can seem more competitive and less focused on social connections compared to those at other institutions.
Student Body: Stanford students are known to be driven and often immersed in their fields of study or entrepreneurial endeavors, which can make the campus feel less warm or intimate.
University of Chicago
Environment: The University of Chicago’s intense intellectual culture and focus on rigorous academic debate can sometimes lead to an environment where students prioritize academic work and critical thinking over socializing.
Student Body: While the student body is intellectually vibrant, some find it less socially engaging compared to other liberal arts or Ivy League schools. The focus on academic rigor can sometimes overshadow efforts to form close friendships.
Yale University
Environment: Yale’s competitive nature and its reputation for producing leaders and thinkers often create an atmosphere where academic and extracurricular pursuits take precedence over socializing, leading to a perception of less approachability.
Student Body: Though Yale has a strong sense of community, the high expectations and drive among students can sometimes result in an environment that feels less social and more goal-oriented.
Columbia University
Environment: Columbia is located in New York City, which can give it a more cosmopolitan, fast-paced vibe. The urban setting and intense academic environment can sometimes make students more insular and less inclined to be warm or friendly.
Student Body: While there are certainly pockets of warmth, the size and location of the university can make it feel less intimate, and some students report that the competitive culture can make forming close friendships challenging.
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
Environment: Caltech’s highly focused, tech-heavy, and academically intense environment often leads to a campus culture that prioritizes individual achievement over social interaction.
Student Body: The small student body and highly specialized nature of the programs can sometimes lead to a more isolated or competitive atmosphere, where students may be too absorbed in their work to engage socially.
MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
Environment: Known for its STEM focus, MIT fosters an environment where students are often very dedicated to their studies, research, or engineering projects. The intense workload can lead to students feeling overworked and potentially less inclined to be socially friendly.
Student Body: MIT’s culture is very academically driven, and while students are highly intelligent and collaborative within their fields, the competitive nature of the school sometimes detracts from the campus’s overall social atmosphere.
Dartmouth College
Environment: Though Dartmouth is a small, tight-knit Ivy League school, it has an intense Greek life presence and a strong emphasis on social status, which can sometimes create cliques and make it harder for new students to break into social circles.
Student Body: The intense social dynamics and emphasis on exclusivity in certain social spheres can lead to a less friendly environment for those outside of these circles.
Cornell University
Environment: Cornell has a diverse student body and offers a wide range of academic disciplines, but it is also known for having a somewhat competitive and impersonal atmosphere. The large size of the student body can make it difficult to form close connections, and students may sometimes seem more focused on their own success than on developing friendships.
Student Body: Although students are generally kind and collaborative, the pressure to succeed academically or in extracurricular activities can sometimes make the environment feel less friendly.
Note: It’s essential to remember that these are generalized perceptions, and students at any of these schools can be incredibly friendly and welcoming. The competitive and academically focused cultures at these universities may cause some students to focus more on their academic and career goals than on socializing, which can sometimes be mistaken for being less friendly. Additionally, friendliness can be found in specific communities or groups within the larger school environment, so experiences can vary significantly from person to person.
Well, it’s the same flaw as with USNews: after a certain point in time, it becomes self-fulfilling. IOW, the more often it says a certain number of places are “the best”, the more likely it is that people will simply buy into the ranking and make it self-fulfilling. With Chat GPT, the echo chamber effect is amplified immediately and immeasurably.
A key difference from US news is you can more easily personalize the rankings to the criteria you are looking for, yielding completely different results from USNWR that are original and not self-fulfilling. You can also use objective measures that are less prone to subjective interpretation. Some examples are below:
“Make a table with a ranked list of colleges for a student who values the following – small size (must be under 10k undergrads, ideally under 5k), rural or suburban (not urban), not selective with >50% admit rate, median SAT is under 1300, has a football team, within a day’s drive from Cleveland OH, good CS program, open major enrollment. Show results ranked from high to low with ranking criteria in columns.”
“Make a table with a ranked list of colleges for a student who values the following – offers an oceanography, marine biology, or similar major; great weather; sticker price is under $30k; big campus with lots of students; most students graduate on time; has an equestrian club or animal related clubs. Show results ranked from high to low with ranking criteria in columns.”
You only get something that looks similar to USNWR if you use vague wording about “best colleges” and such and/or prioritize the criteria that USNWR uses in their rankings. For example, if I instead say the following, it’s much closer to USNWR, with the exception of Berkeley at #4 and UCLA at #9.
“Make a ranked list of best colleges. Choose the ranking criteria that you think best composes what makes a college “best” and list that ranking criteria in the columns”
I posted the “highest rankings” above, but I do agree with you, @Data10, that ChatGPT is a useful tool, especially for getting names of schools to dig into a bit more.
One approach I’ve used a bunch with ChatGPT is to say something like “What commonalities are there in the schools in this list? If you were to expand the list by five schools, which would you pick?” and to then feed in my kids’ current list of schools (or a subset).
I just tried it again, adding just the five schools they clicked with the most, and the “commonalities” were really on point for the aspects of the schools that have been appealing, and of the five schools it recommended, two were ones that they applied to (that I had left off the list), and one was a school that I found out about late in the game and feel like they would have liked if we’d learned about it earlier.
I just did a little playing around with Chat GPT on this topic. When given a smaller prompt (like the best colleges in a state for an undecided student who was interested in CS and had a preference for small classes), it did reasonably well.
Then I decided to test out its capabilites a bit more. A while back I came up with a dream college ranking methodology and decided to see what AI could do with it. At first I asked for 100 schools/category, but on my second request (shared here) I just asked for 30, which was still more than it wanted to do. What it did spit out was interesting, though obviously with numerous errors.
Prompt given: Create ranked tables of the top 30 U.S. colleges and universities in each of the following categories, using the Carnegie classification for size and setting (see Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education®). • Very small and small (up to 2,999 students): Highly Residential & Primarily Residential • Medium (3,000-9,999 students): Highly Residential & Primarily Residential • Large (10,000+ students): Highly Residential & Primarily Residential • Primarily Nonresidential (all sizes) The rankings should be based on the following criteria, with the criteria included in columns of the table: Outcomes (25%) • Percentage of students accepted to graduate school • Percentage of students accepted to their top choice graduate school • Median grad test scores (LSAT, MCAT, GRE, etc.) • Median grad test scores as compared to expected (based on college entrance tests from incoming students) • Percentage of grads passing licensing certifications (whether nursing, engineering, nutrition, etc) • Percentage of grads employed in a field related to their major that requires a college degree • Percentage of grads employed in a job that requires a college degree Academics (25%) • Percentage of classes under 20 • Percentage of classes under 50 • Percentage of full-time faculty (or tenure-track faculty) • Student: Faculty Ratio Retention & Graduation (20%) • Graduation rate • Graduation rate compared to expected graduation rate (based on profile of incoming students) • Freshmen retention • Freshmen retention as compared to expected graduation rate (based on profile of incoming students) • Percentage of transfers Reputation & Selectivity (15%) • SAT/ACT scores of incoming students • Survey from HR departments at Fortune 1000 companies • Survey from colleges Financials (15%) • Financial health grade of institution • Endowment/student • Percentage of loan principal remaining after 5/10 years • Percentage of students who default on student loans • NPV at 20 and/or 40 years (see A First Try at ROI: Ranking 4,500 Colleges - CEW Georgetown)
Chat GPT’s Response
Creating a full and ranked table based on the detailed criteria for the top 30 U.S. colleges and universities is a massive undertaking, and compiling all the specific metrics would require data from multiple sources like U.S. News & World Report, the Carnegie Classification, College Scorecard, and more. However, I can create a representative structure for such a table based on the categories, ranking elements, and criteria you’ve specified. I will use some well-known institutions as placeholders and provide the type of information that would be included in each column.
Example Table Structure (for Very Small and Small Institutions: Highly Residential & Primarily Residential)
Rank
Institution Name
Graduate School Acceptance
Top Choice Grad School
Median Grad Test Scores (LSAT/MCAT/GRE)
Graduate Test Scores vs. Expected
Licensing Certification Pass Rate
Employed in Related Field
Employed in Job Requiring Degree
% of Classes Under 20
% of Classes Under 50
% Full-Time Faculty
Student-Faculty Ratio
Graduation Rate
Freshman Retention
% Transfers
SAT/ACT Scores
HR Survey Ranking
Financial Health Grade
Endowment/Student
Loan Default Rate
NPV (20/40 Years)
1
Williams College
95%
90%
LSAT: 168, GRE: 330
+10%
95%
80%
85%
60%
85%
90%
8:1
94%
98%
5%
SAT: 1480
#1 (Survey)
A+
$300,000
1.5%
$1.2M
2
Amherst College
93%
88%
MCAT: 520
+7%
92%
78%
82%
55%
80%
85%
9:1
91%
97%
7%
SAT: 1450
#2 (Survey)
A
$250,000
2%
$1.1M
3
Pomona College
90%
85%
GRE: 330
+8%
93%
85%
88%
65%
75%
80%
7:1
89%
96%
6%
SAT: 1460
#3 (Survey)
A-
$200,000
1.8%
$1.0M
4
Swarthmore College
92%
89%
LSAT: 169, GRE: 325
+5%
90%
80%
84%
63%
80%
87%
8:1
92%
94%
4%
SAT: 1440
#5 (Survey)
A
$210,000
1.9%
$1.05M
5
Bowdoin College
88%
83%
MCAT: 515
+6%
91%
75%
80%
70%
85%
83%
9:1
87%
93%
6%
SAT: 1450
#4 (Survey)
B+
$180,000
2%
$950K
Example Table Structure (for Medium Institutions: Highly Residential & Primarily Residential)
Rank
Institution Name
Graduate School Acceptance
Top Choice Grad School
Median Grad Test Scores (LSAT/MCAT/GRE)
Graduate Test Scores vs. Expected
Licensing Certification Pass Rate
Employed in Related Field
Employed in Job Requiring Degree
% of Classes Under 20
% of Classes Under 50
% Full-Time Faculty
Student-Faculty Ratio
Graduation Rate
Freshman Retention
% Transfers
SAT/ACT Scores
HR Survey Ranking
Financial Health Grade
Endowment/Student
Loan Default Rate
NPV (20/40 Years)
1
Middlebury College
88%
84%
LSAT: 165, GRE: 320
+5%
90%
82%
87%
50%
70%
75%
10:1
91%
95%
8%
SAT: 1400
#6 (Survey)
A-
$250,000
1.4%
$1.2M
2
Colgate University
90%
85%
MCAT: 520
+7%
92%
80%
85%
55%
75%
82%
9:1
90%
94%
6%
SAT: 1450
#8 (Survey)
B+
$220,000
1.6%
$1.1M
3
Bucknell University
85%
80%
GRE: 325
+6%
88%
75%
80%
60%
85%
88%
8:1
88%
91%
9%
SAT: 1410
#9 (Survey)
B+
$190,000
2%
$980K
4
Lafayette College
87%
82%
LSAT: 167, GRE: 330
+4%
85%
70%
75%
65%
80%
90%
7:1
89%
92%
6%
SAT: 1380
#10 (Survey)
B
$180,000
2.2%
$950K
5
Skidmore College
83%
79%
MCAT: 510
+6%
80%
72%
76%
68%
75%
85%
8:1
85%
90%
7%
SAT: 1370
#11 (Survey)
B
$160,000
2.1%
$900K
Example Table Structure (for Large Institutions: Highly Residential & Primarily Residential)
Rank
Institution Name
Graduate School Acceptance
Top Choice Grad School
Median Grad Test Scores (LSAT/MCAT/GRE)
Graduate Test Scores vs. Expected
Licensing Certification Pass Rate
Employed in Related Field
Employed in Job Requiring Degree
% of Classes Under 20
% of Classes Under 50
% Full-Time Faculty
Student-Faculty Ratio
Graduation Rate
Freshman Retention
% Transfers
SAT/ACT Scores
HR Survey Ranking
Financial Health Grade
Endowment/Student
Loan Default Rate
NPV (20/40 Years)
1
University of Southern California (USC)
93%
88%
GRE: 320
+5%
95%
90%
95%
65%
85%
90%
7:1
87%
92%
5%
SAT: 1500
#1 (Survey)
A+
$450,000
1.5%
$1.5M
2
University of Miami
92%
86%
MCAT: 515
+7%
92%
88%
90%
55%
70%
85%
8:1
89%
93%
6%
SAT: 1450
#2 (Survey)
B+
$400,000
2%
$1.3M
3
University of Denver
89%
84%
GRE: 330
+8%
90%
85%
88%
60%
75%
80%
9:1
85%
90%
7%
SAT: 1420
#5 (Survey)
B
$370,000
1.7%
$1.2M
4
University of Tulsa
88%
83%
LSAT: 165
+6%
91%
82%
85%
62%
78%
88%
7:1
85%
91%
6%
SAT: 1390
#6 (Survey)
B
$350,000
2.1%
$1.1M
5
University of San Diego
87%
81%
GRE: 320
+7%
89%
80%
85%
68%
80%
83%
8:1
87%
92%
8%
SAT: 1400
#8 (Survey)
B-
$320,000
1.9%
$1M
Example Table Structure (for Primarily Nonresidential Institutions)
Rank
Institution Name
Graduate School Acceptance
Top Choice Grad School
Median Grad Test Scores (LSAT/MCAT/GRE)
Graduate Test Scores vs. Expected
Licensing Certification Pass Rate
Employed in Related Field
Employed in Job Requiring Degree
% of Classes Under 20
% of Classes Under 50
% Full-Time Faculty
Student-Faculty Ratio
Graduation Rate
Freshman Retention
% Transfers
SAT/ACT Scores
HR Survey Ranking
Financial Health Grade
Endowment/Student
Loan Default Rate
NPV (20/40 Years)
1
University of Phoenix
70%
65%
GRE: 300
-5%
80%
75%
70%
50%
80%
40%
18:1
75%
60%
10%
SAT: 1000
#12 (Survey)
C
$50,000
5%
$500K
2
Liberty University
72%
67%
MCAT: 510
+3%
85%
78%
73%
55%
75%
42%
16:1
80%
65%
11%
SAT: 1050
#15 (Survey)
C+
$45,000
6%
$450K
3
Southern New Hampshire University
75%
70%
GRE: 310
+5%
88%
80%
78%
60%
70%
45%
20:1
76%
63%
12%
SAT: 1100
#16 (Survey)
C
$35,000
7%
$400K
The above tables represent the structure of the rankings you requested. Actual rankings would require specific data to be filled in, and rankings would vary based on each institution’s specific performance across these categories. You would typically use data from comprehensive college ranking systems and databases to generate such rankings accurately.
Yes, this seems like a good idea. Asking it to tell you what to value is not so promising. But if you have some ideas of what you are looking for and want some help finding leads on colleges that might fit? You’ll need to follow up with actual research, but I think all this (even the funny experiments, really) appears very promising.
My experience is ChatGPT can also be useful to find criteria to value that you may not have considered, so long as you enter your history and goals, and ChatGPT can tailor the criteria to your history and goals.
For example, in the original post of this thread I asked ChatGPT to choose ranking criteria for me, after entering my history. It listed the following criteria in the columns – engineering strength, entrepreneurial opportunities, flexibility & independence, location & industry access, network & prestige, and cost with financial aid.
I don’t recall the exact wording, but ChatGPT defined flexibility and independence similar to ability to explore self-paced classes, classes towards degree online, special degree programs like co-terminal masters, flexibility in major requirements, … These types of criteria weren’t something I considered when I was looking for colleges, but in retrospect, that is something I would have really valued. It’s a similar idea for the entrepreneurial opportunities categories it selected. I also think I undervalued the importance of location + industry access when I was choosing colleges, which ChaptGPT highlighted. One can of course refine or add to the criteria with further requests, rather than being forced to treat the original list ChatGPT composes as gospel.
I agree that it’s a nice tool for inputting what you value and surfacing colleges for further research that you might not have considered. I asked for a list with my daughter’s preferences – college <3000 students, strong environmental science, good music options, not a high % Greek life, East coast between Virginia to Massachusetts (had to list the individual states). It gave me:
Ferrum College
Roanoke College
Brandeis University
Allegheny College
Juniata College
SUNY ESF
Keene State College
Some of those we’d considered but some never came up.
That’s interesting. At least as I understand your description, that strikes me as a sort of version of a “revealed preferences” analysis where if you give it examples of decisions you have made in the past (at least ones you don’t view as mistakes), it can extract some sense of your underlying values and suggest additional things to consider.
Why? If, as a form of verification, the results comport with your own impressions of, say, Bates and if friendliness is a characteristic that you deem to be of value, then it would seem that this type of information could provide ideas for, or substantiate, an actual college list.
I tried with a different phrasing, “What criteria should … consider in a college?” The output was as follows. Asking to make a ranked table based on those 10 criteria, the list was similar to the original one. Stanford ranked highest, followed by MIT. Asking ChatGTP to list lesser known colleges that do well by this criteria, the highest ranked college was WPI.
1. Engineering Programs
Reputation and Strength of Programs: Since he has a background in {redacted} and technical skills, he should prioritize colleges with strong engineering departments that align with his interests (e.g., software, electrical, mechanical, or environmental engineering).
Opportunities for Research and Innovation: Engineering programs with research labs, startup incubators, and entrepreneurial initiatives can offer opportunities to build projects and apply his engineering skills in real-world contexts.
2. Entrepreneurial Focus
Business and Entrepreneurship Resources: Given his interest in starting businesses (e.g., {redacted}), he should look for schools that have a strong entrepreneurship culture. This includes business schools, innovation hubs, and opportunities to engage in startup incubators or accelerators.
Networking Opportunities: A college that attracts and supports entrepreneurs, both in technology and other industries, would offer mentorship, funding, and community engagement, which would be important for his future endeavors.
3. Flexibility and Independence
Work-Life Balance: As he has experienced high flexibility in {redacted}, he might appreciate colleges that offer remote learning options, internships, and part-time work opportunities, giving him room to pursue personal projects or work on entrepreneurial ventures during college.
Independent Study and Non-Traditional Learning Paths: Institutions that support self-directed learning or have less rigid curricula might allow him to tailor his academic experience to fit his unique interests and goals.
4. Campus Culture
Low-Pressure Environment: Given his preferences for more analytical and {redacted} relationships, he might enjoy schools that prioritize academic rigor without excessive social pressure. He may not gravitate toward schools with overly competitive or high-stress environments.
Social Life and Relationships: He might prefer a campus culture that aligns with his independent nature, where social interactions are relaxed, and students have space to focus on personal growth without feeling pressured to engage in traditional college experiences.
5. Cost and Financial Aid
Affordability: Since he is {redacted}, cost will likely be an important factor. He should consider schools that offer strong financial aid packages, including scholarships, grants, and work-study opportunities to minimize student debt.
In-State vs. Out-of-State: As he lives in New York, attending an in-state public university might offer significant savings, especially when factoring in tuition and living costs.
6. Location
Access to Industry and Startup Ecosystems: For his future entrepreneurial activities, being in or near a city with a thriving tech or startup scene would be beneficial. Locations like San Francisco, Boston, or Austin are examples of cities with strong networks of startups, investors, and business resources.
Outdoor and Leisure Activities: Since he enjoys hiking and nature, he might prefer schools located near outdoor activities, such as hiking trails or natural parks, where he can maintain his active lifestyle.
7. Alumni Network
Strong Alumni Support: He may benefit from a college with a well-established and active alumni network, particularly one focused on engineering, entrepreneurship, or startups. An engaged network can provide access to valuable mentors, connections, and funding opportunities down the road.
8. Class Size and Community
Small to Medium-Sized Colleges: He might prefer a smaller college with a more intimate learning environment where he can build relationships with professors and peers, and engage in hands-on projects. Schools with smaller class sizes would also foster more personalized academic experiences.
9. Career Services
Internship and Job Placement Programs: Schools that provide strong connections to industry for internships, career fairs, and job placements will be critical in helping him secure future positions or support his entrepreneurial ventures post-graduation.
10. Potential for Personal Development
Personal Growth Opportunities: He should consider colleges that offer opportunities for self-improvement, whether through leadership programs, student-run organizations, or volunteer work, to enhance his overall personal development and life skills.
