<p>I'm pretty sure I have my list of colleges I'm applying to... it's a good mix of safeties, matches, and reaches totaling 13 colleges/universities (I'm a high-achieving student with a dire need for aid, so that's part of the reason I have so many, and I'm still reconsidering nixing some of them). I'm trying to stay organized with each one's deadlines, stats, etc. so I created a giant index card for each one with all that info. </p>
<p>I'd also like to make a pros/cons list on each one, but I would like some ideas on what kind of things I need to consider for pros and cons. So far I have: location, student body size, look/feel of campus, student activity (i.e. a lot of clubs, etc.), and rank/prestige. What other things should I be considering, because I know there's a lot more?</p>
<p>Also, academic opportunities. Have you looked through the school’s course catalog? Does it offer a variety of courses in the subjects you’re interested in? Does it have study-abroad programs you might be interested in? What about the faculty? Research opportunities? etc.</p>
<p>Frats/sororities: Do you want them?</p>
<p>Speaking of, do you want a prevalent party scene? Are you looking for a permissive environment or not?</p>
<p>Are you religious or not? Do you want your school to provide opportunities for religious worship? Do you want it to keep things strictly secular?</p>
<p>Grad school/job placement.</p>
<p>Dorms, facilities and food.</p>
<p>Regional, ethnic and cultural diversity. Do you want to interact with lots of international and out-of-state students?</p>
<p>Partnerships with other institutions–does the school participate in any consortia or exchange/cross-registration programs with other colleges? Do many students do research internships at other universities in the summer?</p>
<p>Does the school have an honor code?</p>
<p>What’s unique about it? Quirky traditions, campus architecture, graduation requirements, Rhodes scholars, famous alumni, whatever. What makes it stand out?</p>
<p>A lot of it depends on your individual situation. For example, if you’re entering school with a lot of advanced math and plan to major in math, are there sufficient offerings to keep you busy and interested for four years?</p>
<p>In general, does the college have the programs you’re interested in?</p>
<p>How are you with the college’s breadth requirements?</p>
<p>Greek scene</p>
<p>Dorm issues - required for how many years, available for how many years</p>
<p>Seeking, I know we’ve communicated before, but I don’t remember, how many of the 13 have you or will you visit? To me that’s the most reliable way to determine a pro/con list.</p>
<p>If visiting before applying isn’t in the cards, my advice at this point would be don’t over organize. Complete your applications with vigor, approaching each one as if it were the last college on earth. </p>
<p>Once you get your acceptances and financial aid package, you can get serious about the pro/con list (hopefully reinforced with visits). To do so in great detail before hand is an exercize in disappointment.</p>
I have already visited two of my top three, and will be visiting the third before I go home and back to school. I’m making my first list for UF, because it’s the most I’ve read about, most I hear about, and I spent an entire day there with a friend who’s there for Summer B. I got to see his dorm, I sat in on a lecture, talked one-on-one with an admissions officer, and just took a lot of time to soak up the aura at the campus (although it is just summer and not in its normal state of activity).</p>
<p>You do have a good point though about trying to really gauge the college and list pros/cons without having visited and taken the time to really get to know the school. I do plan on visiting most (if not all) of the universities I’m accepted to before I make a decision, but I guess for now I can focus on listing pros and cons for my top three (UF, U Miami, and Georgetown) which are also the ones I have (will have) seen before applying.</p>