<p>What do you do when they don't align? I'm trying to decide between two universities right now. </p>
<p>One is smaller, more "tight-knit", provides a "better undergrad experience," and everyone who goes there just seems to love it. But that school's program for what I want to do isn't all that impressive, but it's decent. The other school is often derided as too large, too impersonal, and way too difficult (bell curves/competition). But it has the perfect program what I want to do. </p>
<p>How can I decide? I'm planning on going to grad school after for my field. The reason I'm limited to these two is because I'm staying in Canada for undergrad, and only a handful of schools even have the program I'm interested in. Any advice is appreciated, thanks.</p>
<p>It depends on your major. For my major (CS), for example, ideal program is more important. Top grad schools for your intended major would know the quality of your undergrad program from an ideal school.</p>
<p>I generally agree with the comments above- they say that when people apply for college, people focus on the university when they should focus on the department and when people apply for graduate school, they focus on the department when they should focus on the lab. I guess by the time you’re a postdoc, you have it all figured out.</p>
<p>One caveat I would like to point out, you may find that once you are in a university, you won’t have the same interests. This isn’t because you are flaky or you aren’t a dedicated individual. When you begin to get exposed to new thoughts, ideas, disciplines and fields, you may find something that suits you even better. This is normal.</p>
<p>When I started college, I chose a university with a lot going on in virology and medical microbiology. However, as I took genetics courses and learned more about prokaryotes, I found that my approaches to intellectual questions and my interests lay with bacteria. If I had been at a school that only offered a virology department I wouldn’t have had the enriching experiences I did. I guess the point I am trying to make, is that you will have an idea of what general area you might want to study going into college, but you should be sure to choose a place that offers more than just that one department in your area should you find a better fit.</p>
<p>1) Apply to both, and wait to decide after you have your acceptances. Perhaps only one will accept you! Then, if both accept you:</p>
<p>2) If you are completely focused on your particular major, and you know that won’t change (some students are like this), choose the place with the best program.</p>
<p>or </p>
<p>3) If you realize that you might change your major (most students are like this), choose the place that is the best fit.</p>