<p>I really had a hard time deciding my college list, but this decision seems a lot harder to make!</p>
<p>Contrary to what most of my friends are doing, I just CANNOT pick a school based solely upon its USNWR Ranking, yet I can't exactly visit any of the schools I've applied to either. :(</p>
<p>So was just wondering what my primary criteria for selection should be once I have all my offers?</p>
<p>PS: I can see that sticky-ed poll, but this is slightly different.</p>
<p>Cheers.</p>
<p>My son wants to major in Computer Science. While we have not visited any campus yet, I am able to pick 20 schools from safety to super reach after I checked out about 150 school websites.</p>
<p>You can find out the information about faculty and courses from the websites. If you like what you see, write down the name of the school. After you visit 200 schools, you could get some ideas where you want to apply to.</p>
<p>Hope this will help. :)</p>
<p>Thanks, but I think you misunderstood me.</p>
<p>I've starting getting my admission decisions, and was wondering how I'm supposed to go about things hereafter...</p>
<p>i have been wondering too about how to pick schools (hopefully i will have the luxury to pick!). i think that different people go about the process differently as every one has a different set of priorities. for me finances are an important issue . it has been a big factor in shaping the list of colleges i have applied to and it will be a major factor when i decide where to go.</p>
<p>Well, personally I will decide based on what the departments have to offer. For example, if my son is interested on robotics, I will see if the department offers the courses and whether the professors are doing research in the field.</p>
<p>As an international student, I think you should see if you get any financial aids unless money is not an issue. In fact I would decide to go the best affordable one. The private schools cost 45K per year now. It is a lot of money for many families.</p>
<p>Of course, this is just my humble opinion. :)</p>
<p>Bumpity Bump.</p>
<p>I haven't gotten most of my decisions back, but, assuming I have a number of schools to choose from (the most optimistic assumption I have made so far this year, heehee), I'll try to contact a couple of current students and/or maybe an alum from my country, to hear of their own experiences and opinions. If I can find any, that is; if not, I have to at least talk to an international student and/or a student majoring in my current academic interests. Then I'll do some more research (online, guidebooks, the usual) to figure out which one is the best "fit". I know we've all done truckloads of research on our schools before applying, but honestly, I've forgotten much of what I've read about six months ago--wow, that much time has passed--so I'll have to do a bit once again before making any decisions.</p>
<p>Read campus reviews; find out which schools would be the best fits.</p>
<p>Decide what part of the country you want to be in. </p>
<p>Look at strengths of majors, etc. </p>
<p>Really, there is no right or wrong answer. Just do what feels right for you.</p>
<p>go to Oberlin! :D</p>
<p>Haha, someone's biased. :D</p>
<p>But seriously, to get back on topic, talk to current students at the various school, look at the strength in your department, talk to professors...the internet is your friend.</p>
<p>lol wouldn't life be so simple, we just pick the highest-ranking school. if only they were all exactly the same in every little thing besides rank. communism of colleges</p>
<p>I would see look at every aspect of the college including social life, dorms and other infrastructure. Afterall, you are going to spend the most important 4 years of life there. A school without a decent social life can be quite cumbersome later. And college is a journey during which you make loads of friends. In the end it comes down to what YOU expect from your college experience. If 'Prestige' is what you want, go for it with the Rankings and stuff. If 'experience' is what you want, find a match for your interests. </p>
<p>Good Luck, 20LEGEND.</p>
<p>CHEERS!</p>
<p>prestige: you can tell by the ranking.
experience: you really can't tell from the outside. If you don't enjoy that school, either transfer or just adapt to it.</p>
<p>I just went through some of the reviews at **************.com and through the campus visit reports and made my choices. I guess thats the best internationals can do.</p>
<p>^^^ why is "s t u de nts revi ew. c om" censored? :O</p>
<p>here's a general approach:</p>
<p>-privates is usually better for international student experience than public
-prestige matter when you're out to into the real world (many will disagree with this, but based from personal experience it does matter a lot)
-location also matters = weather
-proximity to a big city might matter if you're picky about food
-check the companies which visit the school during career fair, if there are lots of IB/hedge fund/PE and famous multinational companies then it's probably a good school.
-check the variety of courses they offer
-check if they offer CPT courses and co-op program for international
-check how many international students are on campus</p>
<p>
[quote]
^^^ why is "s t u de nts revi ew. c om" censored? :O
[/quote]
huh what do you mean? <a href="http://www.%5BCOLOR=%22black%22%5Dstu%5B/color%5Ddentsreview.com">www.studentsreview.com</a> ? seems working for me :D</p>
<p>I think it really depends on what you want in a college. The factors you took into consideration when deciding where to apply are still relevant. Financial aid packages, location, academics, people etc. There isn't ONE primary criterion unless one of those things (eg. finances) matter to you more than anything else. </p>
<p>Besides the college websites, if you do get admitted, you can try to look for more information from admitted students' websites or talk to current students and alumni (the alumnus who interviewed you would be a place to start). I've heard about people talking to other admitted students on facebook too. </p>
<p>Sure it would have been great to be able to visit before making a decision. But like tetrisfan said, the internet is your friend...</p>
<p>We have a website in Sri Lanka which is dedicated for Students and Teachers. The site is Find</a> a Teacher, School, University, College, Educational Institute, Tuition Class, Tutor in Sri Lanka - (FAT = Find A Teacher). You can search for teachers, students, universities, colleges and educational institutes in Sri Lanka via Find</a> a Teacher, School, University, College, Educational Institute, Tuition Class, Tutor in Sri Lanka</p>
<p>One of the most common questions we get from our users (mainly Teahcers, Students and Parents) is : "Do you know or recommend any oversears Universites/Colleges for us to do higer studies". It appears to be that many Sri Lankan students, teachers (and parents) are targetting overseas Universities becasuse of the situation (war) in the country.</p>
<p>Can anyone recommend us some colleges in US and UK which offers courses to overseas students? We would also like to know whether they will offer scholarships.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>t1388,</p>
<p>You sound as if you are going to pick the school, not your son. Isn't he the one going to college?</p>