<p>igrok, my take is that you have a good start in identifying what you want in a college but there are several more dimensions to consider. Since you're just a junior you have the leisure to become better informed and sample some alternatives on campus visits without the pressure facing the current seniors. One excellent book is Pope's "Looking Beyond the Ivy League" since it outlines a whole approach to deciding what you want in a college, how to explore options, etc. While focused a bit on LACs you could just as easily apply the ideas to the mid-sized U you are considering.</p>