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| Choosing College |  Of course, you know that the best schools enroll students with the best grades and the highest test scores. You should also know that there are some college names that impress more on a sweatshirt. But how can you find out which school is right for you? There are some essential things to consider when you decide where to apply for and enroll in college. A lot of people don't spend much time thinking about them, though, and sometimes end up unhappy as a result, even at so-called "great" schools. If you take the time to think about these things now, you'll be able to home on in what really matters to you and find the fit that's right.
1. Size
The size of colleges can be different, from a school in California that enrolls only 26 students to schools like Pennsylvania State, which can enroll 30,000 or more. Which college will be better? That depends on you and what you're comfortable with. Did you visit a small high school or a large one? Did you like the size of your high school? Did you live in a city or a rural area? Do you prefer places where everybody knows you, or do you like the anonymity of a crowd?
2. Type
You know that all colleges are not the same. Some enroll only undergraduates and focus their attention on teaching and learning. Others have large graduate programs and devote much of their time and resources to research. Some schools are best known for giving their students a broad education, while others have a specialty in one specific area, like engineering or writing. There are other college differences, which include whether schools are single sex or coed, if they have a religious affiliation, and whether they are public or private.
Consider also historically black colleges, schools with co-op programs where you earn money while going to school, and schools with large evening and part-time programs. You can see that the options really are almost limitless.
3. Location
Colleges are everywhere, in every living environment you can imagine, from tiny towns in Minnesota to the middle of New York City. If you have grown up in the suburbs, choosing an urban campus can be an adventure. Will you long for a grassy campus and open space after a week of urban noise, dirt, and rude people? But, if you are used to the suburbs and mall life and choose a college in a rural area, will you run screaming into the Student Center some night looking for noise, lights, and people? Take into account where you grew up and how much of a change you want from that when you go to college.
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