Non-negotiables in Your College Search: Student Edition

College Search & Lists
1

<p>I saw a thread with a similar title and content in the Parents’ Cafe and found it very interesting, but rather than overpopulate their conversation, I figured I would start this one with the same question.</p>

<p>What are the factors which you will not negotiate, the things that you must have at your eventual school?</p>

<p>I look forward to seeing each student’s individual preferences! Best of luck in finding that elusive perfect fit.</p>

<p>(Feel free to reference the Parent forum for examples.)</p>

2

<p>Feel free to post parental non-negotiables, as well (whether you agree with their must-haves or not)!</p>

3

<p>When I was a hs senior in suburban Boston, my non-negotiable was that the school had to be outside of New England and it had to be in an “interesting” place. I really didn’t know how to define interesting at the time.</p>

4

<p>HAS to be… more then 15K people,
MUST have a football team…
well… PREFERABLY be near snow at some point</p>

5

<p>Must have name-recognition and lots of school spirit (preferably around athletics)</p>

6

<ol>
<li>NOT rural</li>
<li>small to midsize (no huge state schools, or really any with 10,000+ undergrad)</li>
<li>preferably a research university rather than an LAC (although I’d make a concession if an absolutely perfect fit came along)</li>
<li>somewhere between Virginia and New Hampshire/Vermont</li>
</ol>

<p>to jenx1234, I agree that academic prestige and strong athletics-centered school spirit are also desirable!</p>

7

<ol>
<li>Not too small - say FTE > 5000 at a minimum</li>
<li>Legit, accredited engineering programs available</li>
<li>Not too hot - I hate heat, and the average daily high should not exceed 80 F by much in any month</li>
<li>SAT Math 75%ile > 650 - except a few safeties</li>
</ol>

<p>I strongly prefer schools near good cross-country skiing.</p>

8

<p>Smart students and strong computer science with undergrad research opportunity.</p>

9

<p>I have very few non-negotiables! That’s my problem. Anyway a few of them are:</p>

<p>-Smart, academically motivated students
-Safe environment
-A decent amount of prestige (since I plan to live abroad)
-Good number of intl students/student diversity
-Not fanatically anything</p>

10

<p>The only non-negotiable I can think of is secular/religious-in-name only. I’m a pretty passionate atheist, and I’ve never felt quite comfortable in religious settings.</p>

<p>I also said I didn’t want to go to school in the South, but I broke that several times. The other requirement was, roughly, “equally or more prestigious than UGA.”</p>

11

<p>Good financial aid, anyone?</p>

12

<p>Yes, financial aid. </p>

<p>Not too conservative (Student body split down the middle was fine but no majority of conservatives- I wanted a change). </p>

<p>That was pretty much it.</p>

13

<p>No red states.</p>

14

<ul>
<li>happy, well-rounded students</li>
<li>delicious food, lots of variety</li>
<li>comfortable study areas</li>
</ul>

15

<p>ach, adding another post just because I don’t like to be #13 (poster)</p>

<ul>
<li>roomy dorms</li>
<li>professors who care to teach, not just do research</li>
<li>a national reputation</li>
</ul>

16

<p>Oh yhats another one… No overbearing liberal schools.</p>

17

<p>Academic strength in math & science
Happy students
Good student-prof interaction/profs who care about teaching
Research and internship opportunities
Prestigious in the eyes of graduate schools (top LACs as well as research Us)</p>

18

<p>“No overbearing liberal schools.”</p>

<p>THAT’s gonna narrow things down.</p>

19

<p>1000-9000 undergrads
life of the mind atmosphere
nothing south of nc/no square states</p>

20

<p>1) Need-blind admissions
2) Not in the West or Southwest US
3) Have some similarity to Hogwarts
4) International prestige
5) Brilliant professors & courses
6) Pleasant student atmosphere</p>