<p>Here’s my short list of criteria (as derived from when my two kids were looking at schools) in no particular order:</p>
<p>Location, location, location (was very important to D whereas S couldn’t have cared less)
School size and type, e.g., LAC vs. university
Opportunities offered to students - majors, courses, cross-registration with other schools, interaction/working with faculty, extracurricular activities
Fit</p>