<p>Whatever you guys did, I would appreciate if you shared some of your college searching process with me. </p>
<p>I am trying to major in Economics/Business but as of right now I actually don't know how to break down and find colleges that match. I think I may have a general idea, but I like to do things efficiently and don't feel like I am looking at all the right things all the time. I know the campus life is a big part of the search but I am looking to use that to narrow it even further once I've picked all the colleges that look good for what I want on paper.</p>
<p>This isn’t rocket science (unless you want to study aerospace engineering).</p>
<p>What do you think you want to study? Every school will offer biology, English, and history. But certain languages, advanced sciences, or arts may be less common. If this is an issue, start here. (I had a college classmate who discovered, only after arriving, that the school didn’t even offer the classes and major she wanted.)</p>
<p>How much can you pay? Financial issues can be huge, especially if you think you’ll want to go to graduate school. Rule of thumb: avoid debt as much as possible.</p>
<p>Think about the school itself. Your high school experience may help you to answer this one. Big or small? Both have consequences in the classroom: kinds of teachers you get, individual attention you can expect, prevalence of large or small classes, level of academic support if you need it. Some schools accept lots of students but use the introductory classes to weed out the least competent or dedicated. Others almost never fail a student.</p>
<p>Other location factors. In a city, suburb, small town, or the middle of nowhere? How convenient is it to get to? How far from home? How often are you likely to go home?</p>
<p>Can you likely get in? Have you taken the required and recommended courses? Do your grades, class rank, and test scores match the statistics the admissions office looks for? Some places admit solely by the numbers. Others also consider extra factors. This is a long and complicated issue.</p>
<p>You’re right not to worry about the feel of a school or the social life until you’ve narrowed your choices on the basis of these criteria.</p>