<p>The good news is there are choices. The hard news is how do you choose? All of the schools seem like the fit would work and nothing in particular stands out. All are in the Northeast. Do reputations such as ratings in the lists matter once you graduate? Some offered money some didn't. Of the schools none of them offered enough money to make a difference in the choice. All of the schools are over 10,000 students. Does the student total population matter or is it only the schools population that you were accepted to within the university population that matters? So the decision process moves on. Any suggestions for additional criteria?</p>
<p>My daughter is struggling with her choices, too. The difference is that these are all small schools and in the midwest.</p>
<p>1) Read through the course catalogue for the projected major, and think about the differences in the programs. If you have a specific area of that major you want to pursue, one or more might be eliminated quickly (Happykid is a theater tech major with an interest in lighting. Any place with fewer than three lighting design courses gets kicked to the curb. If sound design is a required course for the major, that is an automatic rejection too.)</p>
<p>2) Chat up the people in the Career Center. What is the track record for internship and job placement in your major?</p>
<p>3) Run the calculators, and look at the money again: [FinAid</a> | Calculators | Advanced Award Letter Comparison Tool](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid) Ask about whether the scholarship money is automatically renewed, or if a certain GPA or major has to be maintained. Maybe there is a difference after all.</p>
<p>4) Look at the school-year calendars. Is there any difference in when the vacations fall, and how much time is off? </p>
<p>5) Check the transportation cost and hassle factor to and from campus. If it is harder to get home for a weekend/break, etc. is there fun stuff to do nearby that won’t break your budget. Along this line, how hard is it for your parents to come visit? If you play a sport or will be performing in a concert, does it matter if they can get there to watch?</p>
<p>6) If there still is time, squeeze in a visit to one or two. Seeing them again in person may make a difference.</p>
<p>7) Take a long hard look at the extra curricular activities that are available on campus and in town. Do you need a sailing club to be happy? Would you prefer to get a part-time job at WalMart so that you can stay in their benefit system, or would you like a change and work at Target instead?</p>
<p>Wishing you all the best as you make your decisions!</p>