Different schools match different students. FastWeb asked high school and college students what they looked for in a college. Here’s what they said.
Academic Programs:
"The thing I found most important in selecting a college was the types of programs available for my major. Were they accredited? Was the school known for their program in that subject?" Kristen O'Brien, California State Polytechnic University.
"The top priority on my list of things to look for was a school that would challenge me. Academic prestige was a definite factor, but I didn't want my college experience to be just about that," Matt Stenerson, Stanford University.
"The first thing that I felt I should look at was how the college rated in my major," Emmanuel Situka, Texas A&M.
Reputation:
"Even though I had applied to places like Yale and Princeton, I only did so based on the reputation of their quality," Seth Pipkin, Brown University.
"I decided to go Texas A&M because they have one the most illustrious engineering departments in the U.S.," Emmanuel Situka, Texas A&M.
"Like many students, I was tempted to simply look at the national rankings or to go by prestige to select a school, but this is not a good technique. In the end, I chose a school where I could see myself enjoying and succeeding at my studies,"David McGibbon, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Location:
"I am pretty much a country boy, and I don't like driving through big cities everyday. I picked my college based on its isolated location," Andy Flippen, Gordon College, Georgia.
"I chose Cal Poly because it is five hours from my house. I believe that it helped in my maturing process and got me fully involved in my school community," Kristen O'Brien, California State Polytechnic University.
"Stanford was right in my backyard, only an hour's drive away. Mom just loves seeing me once a week when I come home to do laundry," Matt Stenerson, Stanford University.
Size:
"Class size was one of the most deciding factors for me. I feel that I learn better in a smaller class environment," Kristen O'Brien, California State Polytechnic University.
"I would definitely prefer to attend a school with 5,500 undergraduates than one with 25,000-plus," Seth Pipkin, Brown University.
"To me, size matters. After visiting several highly competitive but extremely large universities, I found that I wanted an environment in which I could put a name with most of the faces I saw on campus," Terri Bendyna, College of William and Mary.
Diversity:
"I wanted a school with amazing people from all walks of life. I have been at Stanford only a few weeks and have already met people from the East Coast, the Midwest, Canada, Turkey and many other places. I've spent many a night talking to these people and hearing all of their awesome stories," Matt Stenerson, Stanford University.
"I’ve learned an immeasurable amount from the diversity of my classmates. Racially, ethnically, economically and even age-wise, my college is a cross-section of the entire world," Andrea Pakieser, Harold Washington City College.
Financial Aid:
"I labored over financial aid and scholarship offers, meticulously considering my calculations from a variety of angles. Eliminating the schools which would cost more than $20,000 each year after scholarships and financial aid deductions seemed logical," Terri Bendyna, College of William and Mary.
"The best place to get information on [financial aid] is the financial aid office. If you really are interested in attending this university, they will find a way to help you pay for it," Emmanuel Situka, Texas A&M.
"[Dartmouth initially] offered me no aid. When I visited, however, I set up an appointment with the financial aid office. They said they would review my case but offered me no guarantees. When I got back home and received a letter from Dartmouth with my financial aid award, I was ecstatic," Tina Catania, Dartmouth College.
Advice:
"Talk to people!!! Your college counselor, your cousin who just finished his freshman year... anyone who can give you some current information about the world of colleges is a great reference!" Andrea Pakieser, Harold Washington City College.
"Early in your college search, absorb all the information that you can from different sources (students, friends, published reviews, counselors) and pick the one that best suits your career goals and personality," David McGibbon, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
"Check out the library, talk to friends who are in college, look online. Be well informed when you make your decision," Emmanuel Situka, Texas A&M.
"My only words of advice are to apply to as many places as you can, visit the school after you get in, decide on the place that feels right and accept the fact that things happen for a reason," Tina Catania, Dartmouth College.
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