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| Choosing College |
 8. Athletics and Events
Are you fond of sport, or does the sound of a marching band and the sight of a football uniform make you cringe? Some schools consider sports the order of the day, the main social activity on most students' calendars, while other schools may not have a football team at all, or may not pay much attention to it if they do.
Perhaps, you're really into going to live concerts, or you love nothing better than to go hiking in the woods. If you prefer to spend your free time going to shows at clubs, you probably won't be happy at a small school in the countryside where few musical acts stop on tour. But if you love to be outdoors, a campus in a natural setting can give you just the kind of balance you need to feel your best.
9. Activities and Special Programs
Have you dreamt to live in another country? There are colleges, which have special programs to help you do just that, for a semester or even a whole school year. Usually you'll get full credit for your work overseas, plus have the chance to learn a new language, make some new friends, and try some new food.
Or perhaps you're a dancer or a journalist and you'll want to be sure you go to a school that not only fulfills your academic goals, but your personal ones, too. Some schools have great arts and theater programs, or excellent newspapers, giving students a chance to be involved in extra-curricular activities outside their majors. Other schools concentrate all their attention on great classes, but not much else.
10. Your Gut Feeling
Learn to trust your instincts. If a place feels right, that's important. Vice versa, if it just feels wrong, no matter who wants you to go there or how good it looks on paper, it probably is. Remember that college is a very personal choice, and after considering all the other objective factors, the fact of the matter is that it comes down to you. Examine colleges you're interested in, and see how you feel walking around their campuses. Could you imagine yourself going to school there? If you find a few places that you like, you'll be well on your way to finding the college that's right for you.
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