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Is there a easier way that can allow me to figure out what I should go with, and why that suits me better than the rest?
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twilightdarling is right; don't panic. First off, your intended major shouldn't play that big a role in what school you're going to. Most people are surprised to learn this. Unless you have a specific vocational major in mind (engineering, nursing, etc) that isn't offered as widely as liberal-arts majors, focus more on picking a school with a good rep thats a fit for you. Most people end up changing majors once in college, anyway. Finance or accounting is a little more restrictive because not every school offers these, but if you don't KNOW you want to do one of these for SURE, then I wouldn't pick a school based on it. The way in college to settle on one major is to take a survey in different majors and then one will probably jump out as right for you. And there is no pre-law major, BTW.</p>
<p>At least in the back of your mind should be the question of what career you want to pursue. Since you throw out journalism, pre-law, accounting, it sounds like you've contemplated this, and these are 3 very different fields! Fortunately you don't need to settle anything before college. What you SHOULD do is take full advantage of the career center from the time you start college instead of waiting until senior year like all to many people do :) There will be talks by people in fields that you should attend, career tests you can take, counselors to talk with, and most colleges have lists of alums that will talk with current students about their career field. Most important, though, are internships where you actually get to see the day-to-day job and find out if its right for you. You can even get a start now; get a job of any kind in a law firm because once your inside you'll see the work lawyers do and can decide if its what you'd enjoy.</p>
<p>Because you're just a junior you have time to do the college search right. Start by getting a book or two about college admissions to get an overview of the whole process. One good book is "Looking Beyond the Ivy League" by Pope (although the book has a bias towards LACs).</p>
<p>The way to pick colleges is top-down, meaning you start by identifying your preferences (location, competiveness, size, study abroad programs, sports, performing arts, and the dozens of other things that matter to you). Visit nearby colleges of the various types; an urban U, a smaller U, a LAC, etc. Talk to students, take the tour, get an idea of what fits you. I don't understand why you say "And I'm not really that interested in many other schools." because the important thing is finding a school thats a fit for you. Have you examined all the alternatives out there is my first question. And whatever it is that Marymount Manhattan has that attracts you is something you should be able to list, and then you should be able to find other schools that provide similar qualities.</p>