<p>The best schools are the ones with the highest four-year graduation rates. The Ivys are consistently the best in this statistic. If a school only publishes five or six graduation rates, take it as a warning.</p>
<p>Tobin, notes,"The best schools are the ones with the highest four-year graduation rates. The Ivys are consistently the best in this statistic. If a school only publishes five or six graduation rates, take it as a warning."</p>
<p>Response: Not necessarily so. There are many reasons for not having a high graduation rate. For example, some schools have a built in co-op program (such as Northeastern, Drexel and RIT). Thus, graduation rates will be at least 5 years if people take advantege of it. Some schools allow and encourage double majors, which take longer. Some schools (mostly public institutions) make it harder to get all your required courses, which may make students go an extra year. Some schools may be demanding tough adademic standards and cause a number of stuedents to either flunk out or drop out. Thus, there are many reasons for the lower 4 year or even 6 year graduation rates.</p>
<p>Location: a different region than where I grew up, just for a change. Distance is not a factor, since my parents are leaving the country as soon as I'm out, and renting our house...so no home to be near to. </p>
<p>Since I want to go to a different region, and out-of-state public tuition is still pricy, might as well go private. </p>
<p>Preferably small campus. And I like clearly defined campuses. Not like random buildings scattered around a city. </p>
<p>Definitely smaller class size. I love knowing my high school teachers.</p>
<p>Not inner-city, can handle rural. Not that big a deal. </p>
<p>Prestige is fine, but I'm looking beyond it. </p>
<p>I usually check out the college newspapers, since that is the EC I'm most likely to continue in college.</p>
<p>Location: East coast- better for investment banking and financial fields of the like.</p>
<p>Public Vs. Private: Private---I'm a prestige whore. </p>
<p>Campus Size: Medium-Large...i dont want to have to see the same sorry people all day every day for the next four years of my life. Plus I want to be surrounded by a plethora of hot guys.</p>
<p>Class Size: hmmm no opinion.</p>
<p>City: One with alot of access for students...stuff to do...good night life...leniant "party" type laws...not a ghetto...affluent preferably (but i can live if it isnt).</p>
<p>Should prestige be a major factor? (see above) Prestige Whore.</p>
<p>Campus more suitable to education? An even balance...</p>
<p>For Serin, assuming you're going for an undergrad degree, it's rather silly to only look at the East Coast--the big money in I-banking comes after grad school, where the top 1st year salaries go to Stanford grads (believe it or not).</p>
<p>As for undergrad, some publics have stellar economics/business programs--UC Berkeley (top business and economics, also right near San Fran--the business center of the West Coast), UVa, UMich...</p>
<p>I'm not degrading private schools or anything here...just it doesn't seem like you've done your homework.</p>
<p>Location: Far away from the deep South. Nothing wrong with the South; I actually really like it. But I need to go somewhere where things are happening, preferably on the East Coast (I have relatives on the East Coast, and I really like DC a lot). </p>
<p>Public vs. Private: This doesn't really matter to me. I'm lucky that my career goals coincide with a means to pay for college: Marine Option ROTC. </p>
<p>Campus Size: Relatively small, preferably around 5000 or so. From what I've heard, though, you know about the same amount of people at a large school as you would at a small one. (i.e., you stay around those that do the same thing as you, be it sports, a specific major, or the Honors program).</p>
<p>Class Size: I'm going for small, but that's just me. I want to be able to know my professors, and call them up at night if I'm having trouble or something.</p>
<p>City: Right outside or right near a relatively large city. That way, there's plenty to do within a short distance, but you can still get that campus-y feel if you want it.</p>
<p>For me, prestige is a major factor. I really like a lot of tradition, too. Then again, I'm applying to West Point and the Naval Academy. :)</p>
<p>In this order:
(1) content of curriculum (match for me in many possible majors) & quality of faculty in that curriculum
(2) quality of other students attending (not just their previous achievements, standing, etc., but their intended focus -- i.e., more academic than social or athletic -- in college)
(3) student/faculty ratio
(4) accessiblity to academic advisors & profs
(5) opportunity to participate in shaping individual program
(6) aesthetic quality of campus & surrounding area
(7) amount of privacy, quiet in dorms & study areas
(8) size of student body (for me, smaller = better)
(9) on-campus recreational opportunities not involving substance use/abuse</p>
<p>Conversely, biggest turn-offs, in this order:
(1) mega-campus (biblical cast of thousands)
(2) hot, dry weather much of the year
(3) hot, humid weather much of the year
(4) politically activist campus or "pc" student body
(5) "jock" school
(6) "industrial" architecture</p>
<p>Completely unimportant in themselves:
location, cost, prestige</p>
<p>Location: I would like something far, preferabbly east coast (i'm in Ohio) but i wouldn't mind going to school here either</p>
<p>Public Vs. Private: Private if affordable</p>
<p>Campus Size: Mid-range to large</p>
<p>Class Size: I would like to have smaller classes, but I wouldn't mind a few large ones</p>
<p>City: Large east coast cities ie New York, Boston etc. OR Chicago</p>
<p>Should prestige be a major factor? YES lol</p>
<p>Campus more suitable to education vs. Campus more chillike' I would like to have an education-oriented campus, but I would also like to have things around to do, I don't want simply a party school however</p>
<p>Wow, so much prestige whoring. Interesting.</p>
<p>What a strange way to choose the place in which you will live for four years of your life, away from all of the high school people to whom you want to brag about getting into the college.</p>
<p>Whether people like it or not, prestige will always be very important in this oh-so-competitive and capitalist country. There is no doubt, that a Harvard diploma will look MUCH more competitive than a say.... Cal State Hayward diploma. Both to employers and graduate schools. In fact, some jobs are aLL about prestige (investment banking).</p>
<p>I look at 4 factors...all of them of equal importance:</p>
<p>1) Academic quality and reputation. Obviously, the overall reputation of the university is important, as is the quality of the academics at that university. One wants to be taught by the best faculty and compete with good students. The overall quality and reputation of the university plays a huge role in finding that inital job and also plays a huge role in graduate school admissions. So students must look at their credentials objectively and decide what are the best possible universities they can realistically apply to That list should always include a couple of reaches, a few matches and a couple of safeties.</p>
<p>2) Top ranked department in my intended major. It is obviously pointless to go to Yale for Engineering or to MIT for English Literature. A student should know, even if only vaguely, what major she/he is interested in. As such, a student should narrow the list of prospective majors to 3 or 4. In my case, I knew Economics, Political Science, Mathematics and History were my top choices. Once that is established, one can narrow the list from 30 or so universities, to 10-15 universities.</p>
<p>3) Campus life and school spirit. Some schools have a very serious and intellectual feel. Schools like Johns Hopkins and Chicago. Others are completely uninspiring. I will not name any schools! LOL Some are known for incredible cultural offerings and others are very good at spectator sports. Some are very strong accross the board. Some universities are very liberal. Others are highly conservative. Some colleges are filled with party animals and party opportunities and others are not nearly as wild. Obviously, the bigger the school, the more likely it is to have something for everybody. But that is not necessarily good. To some students, small is their ideal. So students must know exactly what they want and apply to the schools that best fit their needs.</p>
<p>4) Locale. Aside from the campus, there is the world around the university that often impacts a student's experience. Some people like the great outdoors whereas others prefer an urban jungle. Some students need an ocean and warm weather others prefer mountains and skiing. Again, students must know exactly what they want and go for it.</p>
<p>Once a student goes through those 4 criterea, I doubt there will be more than 6 or 7 universities left on the list!</p>