<p>This question and your answer(s) to it have the potential to heavily influence ones college search list.</p>
<p>IMO, there is not a single answer, but here are a few answers that I have read on CC:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>A school that offers an excellent blend of outstanding students, a small classroom setting, talented faculty who make undergraduate teaching a priority and an institution with the money and the morality to spend material amounts of money on undergraduate services, including FA. The point of pride here is the Strong Students/Exceptional Setting that is offered. </p></li>
<li><p>A school that has a prominent, historic reputation, often driven by research achievement in the sciences and/or engineering. The colleges have worldwide name recognition and many members of the faculty are intellectual leaders in their academic fields. The point of pride here is the Faculty Reputation and how that patina benefits the entire institution. </p></li>
<li><p>A school that offers a great blend of strong academics (measure it as you wish), a vibrant and diverse social life for the students and a nationally competitive and relevant athletic life. The point of pride here is the Great Balance and the life that the undergraduate students enjoy. </p></li>
<li><p>A school that offers an intimacy that makes completely clear that the undergraduate student is the priority. Faculty will be accomplished and very interested in student development vs research responsibilities. The point of pride here is the Great Access and the idyllic size that foments close student/faculty relationships. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Clearly there are schools that will overlap some of these categories and there are unquestionably other categories that some could suggest. Please do. But please keep the focus on the undergraduate student.</p>