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• Majors offered / areas of study available:  If you know what you want to study, research reputations of academic departments by talking to people in the fields that interest you. If you're undecided, relax and pick an academically balanced institution that offers a range of majors and programs. Most colleges offer counseling to help you find a focus.  If you have more than one major in mind, check several majors to see which colleges offer all.

• Location:  Do you want to visit home frequently, or do you see this as a time to experience a new part of the country? Perhaps you like an urban environment with access to museums, ethnic food, or major league ball games. Or maybe you hope for easy access to the outdoors or the serenity of a small town.  If commuting to a school from your current home is a necessitity, be realistic about how far you can commute daily!

• Cost:  Today's college price tag makes cost an important consideration for most students. At the same time, virtually all colleges work to ensure that academically qualified students from every economic circumstance can find financial aid that allows them to attend. In considering cost, look beyond the price tag.   Tuition is greatly influenced by whether an institution is in-state (less expensive) or out-of-state (more expensive) and whether the institution is public (less expensive) or private (more expensive). Colleges also differ in the amount of available financial aid and  scholarships.

• Student Body Size:  Size will affect many of your opportunities and experiences, including:
  • range of academic majors offered
  • extracurricular possibilities
  • amount of personal attention you'll receive

When considering size, be very sure to look beyond the raw number of students students attending. For example, perhaps you're considering a small department within a large school. Investigate not just the number of faculty, but also how accessible faculty members are to students. 

• Campus Life:  Consider what your college life will be like beyond the classroom. Aim for a balance between academics, activities, and social life. Before choosing a college, learn the answers to these questions:
  • What extracurricular activities, athletics, and special interest groups are available?
  • Does the community around the college offer interesting outlets for students?
  • Are students welcomed by the community?
  • Is there an ethnic or religious group in which to take part?
  • How do fraternities and sororities influence campus life?
  • Is housing available for transfer students?
  • How are dorms assigned?

• Diversity:  Explore what you might gain from a diverse student body. Think about the geographic, ethnic, racial, and religious diversity of the students as a means of learning more about the world. Investigate what kinds of student organizations or other groups with ethnic or religious foundations are active and visible on campus.

• Religious Affiliation:  Are you interested in attending a school with a particular religious focus?  Some schools, even though affliated with a particular church, may have only a minimal religious presence.  Investigate.

• Internships/Cooperative Education:  In today's job market, gaining work experience prior to graduation can be very important.  Ask whether internships or other hands-on experience like cooperative education programs are available in majors that interest you.

• Support Services: If you need special assistance with issues such as learning disabilities, physical disabilities, or academic support, the quality of the college's support services will be very important.

• Retention and Graduation Rates:  One of the best ways to measure a school's quality and the satisfaction of its students is to learn the percent of students who return after the first year and the percent of entering students who remain to graduate. Comparatively good retention and graduation rates are indicators that responsible academic, social, and financial support systems exist for most students.

• College Rank:  You can look at college rankings, but keep in mind that the criteria used may be different from your own. Most national rankings factor in national reputation, endowments and alumni support, and thus may favor large, private colleges and universities. A degree from a state university can be just as valuable as a degree from an Ivy League university or a prestigious private university.

• Number of transfer credits accepted:  Colleges vary in the number of credits that they accept, so contact each college to be sure.  A transfer counselor at Montgomery College can help you with this.