<p>Mine is diversity, student density, campus size, physical apperance, academics, majors.
What's yours?? =P</p>
<p>Hmm. Academics, size, physical appearance, student body/diversity, majors, extracurriculars offered, big athletics, and Greek life.</p>
<p>offers my major
high SATs
sophisticated culture
intellectual atmosphere
close to home
not urban</p>
<p>It should be quality of your fellow students, then everything else.</p>
<p>IMO, the determinants of a quality undergrad academic experience are:
1. the quality of your peers
2. the size of the classroom that you learn in
3. the quality of the instruction that you receive
4. the institution's financial strength and its willingness to spend on efforts to support undergraduate students</p>
<p>I also believe that there is a lot more to choosing a college than the academic environment as you will have 150+ hours per week outside of the classroom. I would look for a strong social life and judge it based on the following:</p>
<p>*Welcoming nature and friendliness of the students
*Musical scene (both locally and for bands that come through)
*Athletic scene for entertainment purposes, ie, sports teams
*Greek life (good or bad)
*Strength of party scene
*Size, diversity and cohesiveness of the student body and how this impacts social life
*Weather and its impact on social activities
*Proximity to urban life/arts
*Student activities including community service, club activities, intramural sports, etc.
*Alcohol and drug scene</p>
<p>For Me (And this is why I love UCI):</p>
<p>-Top Programs in Health Science
-Ability To Do Drama
-Prestige, Rank
-Nice Dorms
-Food
-Financial Paying Ability
-In-N-Ou
-Diversity
-Close to the beach
-Close to shopping malls
-Close to Home but not right next to (3 hours away)
-Grad School Opportunities</p>
<p>Honestly I just wanted a university in a city with a good pre-professional program for Physician Asst. studies. </p>
<p>I was just lucky enough that Drexel had what I wanted at an affordable price.</p>
<p>Size: I don't want to go to a school where I'm simply a number </p>
<p>Campus Life: There needs to be a social sceen of some kind. I refuse to spend weekends reading Chaucer not because I don't want to, but because there is nothing else to do </p>
<p>Financial Aid: I would like to go to a college and not feel guilty that my parents are going broke</p>