<p>I think it's smart to consider the culture of a school. I went to a LAC (sight unseen!) because I had no clue where to go to college, and because it was sort of a family tradition to go there. It was very preppy and Greek-oriented. I was so lonely. I remember overhearing some girls on my freshman hall gossiping about me, how I didn't have the right clothes to fit in to their sorority ... yuck.</p>
<p>Then I participated in a junior year abroad program and met students from other colleges -- Oberlin, Harvard, Grinnell, various state universities, etc. I loved the diversity of the students, the excitment of living and studying in another country ... and my study abroad pals were a lot like me -- adventurous, intellectual, curious. I felt validated, which was important for me at the time.</p>
<p>I think the culture of a school matters a lot. As it is, senior year I did make the best of my college, and it worked out OK, but I wished I had known (way back then in the late seventies!) that different schools have different cultures.</p>