Criteria to Consider

Depending on your personal interests, the following characteristics should play a role in helping you narrow down the field of colleges.

Affiliation
   Public
   Private, independent
   Private, church affiliated
   Proprietary

Size
   Very small (fewer than 1,000 students)
   Small (1,000-3,999 students)
   Medium (4,000-8,999 students)
   Large (9,000-19,999 students)
   Very large (more than 20,000 students)

Community
   Rural
   Small town
   Suburban
   Urban

Location
   In your hometown
   Less than 3 hours from home
   More than 3 hours from home

Housing
   Dorm
   Off-campus apartment
   Home
   Facilities and services for students with disabilities

Student Body
   All male
   All female
   Coed
   Minority representation
   Primarily one religious denomination
   Primarily full-time students
   Primarily part-time students
   Primarily commuter students
   Primarily residential students

Academic Environment
   Majors offered
   Student-faculty ratio
   Faculty teaching reputation
   Instruction by professors versus teaching assistants
   Facilities (such as classrooms and labs)
   Libraries
   Independent study available
   International study available
   Internships available

Financial Aid
   Scholarships
   Grants
   Loans
   Work-study program
   Part-time or full-time jobs

Support Services
   Academic counseling
   Career/placement counseling
   Personal counseling
   Student health facilities

Activities/Social Clubs
   Clubs, organizations
   Greek life
   Athletics, intramurals
   Other

Athletics
   Division I, II, or III
   Sports offered
   Scholarships available

Specialized Programs
   Honors programs
   Services for students with disabilities or special needs