<p>Academic strength is the most important … location coming a close second. Because obviously people are going to choose a UC Berk. graduate in engineering than a engineering graduate who went to the most liberal artsy school possible. So it helps later in life, not just during those four years.</p>
<p>please help
related post!!
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1184443-current-alumni-santa-clara-university-university-washington-admission-query.html?highlight=santa+clara+university[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1184443-current-alumni-santa-clara-university-university-washington-admission-query.html?highlight=santa+clara+university</a></p>
<p>THANK YOU…I feel the same exact way</p>
<p>Good to see that prestige and academic reputation is at the top of the list.</p>
<p>Cost - can you afford it and does it offer financial aid?
Location - is it where you want to be in realtion to your loved ones?
Major - does it offer a strong program in your major?
Atmosphere - do you feel comfortable there?
Safety - will you be safe there?</p>
<p>Those are my top 5. Good luck.</p>
<p>If i were my mom, i would ignore all of these but the prestige. She would rather spend 1,000,000 a year to get me into harvard.</p>
<p>When I was going to school I made a list of everything you could think of under the sun to compare. If I were going to school again, it would come down to only three things: cost, academic reputation, and location, in that order.</p>
<p>far enough away from home ;)</p>
<p>The tuition, location, and programs like majors and transportation. and personal likeness of the environment.</p>
<p>Reading all these posts , I see Harvard trashed some. I don’t think anyone would actually turn down a slot at Harvard. However, after seeing the social preening scene of Harvard displayed by Hollywood in Social Network, don’t know that I’d want my son to have to deal with the endless competitiveness Harvard inspires in everything from their parents’ zipcode to where they vacation…to who’s got the hottest guy/gal. All Harvard, well other than W -types, we know are smarter, testing higher, creating more than most college populations. I guess they are left with highschool issues to continue to compete for a final club, etc. Must be rough to attend Harvard on a full-ride and not be too good looking or athletic. Suppose one could say the same about most campuses. It just seems that having to compete with the best of the best must be exhausting; after becoming a “crispy”, as in totally fried, from going full-throttle all thru highschool. Are they all happy? some, what percentage? howabout all the Yalies, Harvardites, top 20 school attendies that accure huge debt to graduate and are back living with Mom and Dad, unemployeed. Reading alot about these poor bastards…no family firm to plug into…Still, it’d be nice: Harvard Diploma and hanging for four years with the best of the best taught by the best of the best, recognized the world over, given the benefit of the doubt before one open’s his/her mouth.</p>
<p>Location first (far way from home) hopefully in the north east and then cost</p>
<p>Location first (far way from home) - best chance to get in.</p>
<p>Harvard slots have been turned down. for Yale. LOL.
I would have to say after having met some recent Harvard grads that maybe these days you may not necessarily get the benefit of the doubt just because of the diploma. Sometimes I think the air gets to rarefied.</p>
<p>Cost - can you afford it and does it offer financial aid?
Location - is it where you want to be in realtion to your loved ones?
Major - does it offer a strong program in your major?
Atmosphere - do you feel comfortable there?
Safety - will you be safe there?</p>
<p>corneliasusie, you know that Social Network wasn’t a documentary on the Hahvurd experience, right?</p>
<p>To answer the question, fit and campus/student body surroundings, for your mental health and all around well-being.</p>
<p>In reality, it’s all about prestige. Go for The Name, but if you’re unlucky enough to get stuck at some second-rate-no-name-university where you’re happy, transfer and be miserable* all* for the prestige. Your parents will repeat that Name loud and clear when they tell The Joneses where you attend.</p>
<p>Prestige has nothing to do with merit, btw. In the case of college, prestige is directly proportional to the age of the institution and number of well-known alumni. So, the older it is, the more your parents can brag.</p>
<p>When I think of most top schools (think: T10-12; minus LACs, cause no one knows or cares about ‘em), I can’t quite recall anyone mentioning specific academic strengths or programs. Yes, we all know they have endowments heftier than Jesus’ pockets, but it seems most of our ideals on what a good school is, come from its’ exposure in pop culture alone.</p>
<p>I think prestige is a factor but not the most important one. I also think it’s silly to turn down any LAC based purely on the fact that it’s an LAC. I would choose an academically rigorous LAC where I felt comfortable over an ivy that I loathed. College is supposed to be the best 4 years of your life, so why spend them being miserable? I know plenty of people who went to even their state colleges and got into amazing grad schools.
That said, I doubt my mother would ever allow me to turn down Harvard for any school other than Yale or maybe Williams.</p>
<p>Location and academic strength in my stream and one more thing if I am going to other country then the accommodation option. I would prefer a college or university offer student accommodation inside the campus because its very difficult to find a accommodation outside in another country, so many reasons.</p>
<p>Depends on who you ask, but here are the most important factors I’ve found:</p>
<ol>
<li>Who are you, and why are you going to college?</li>
<li>Location</li>
<li>Your future major</li>
<li>Big or small?</li>
<li>Conventional or Unconventional?</li>
<li>Finances</li>
<li>Prestige/rankings
<a href=“source%201”>url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100014240527487041506045761665714533320738588.html</a>
<a href=“source%202”>url=http://howtopickagreatcollege.com</a></li>
</ol>
<p>hi,</p>
<p>These are basic factor in selecting a college.
1.Location
2.Financial aid
3.Environment
4. Housing
-residence hall requirements
-availability
-types and sizes
-food plans
5.Size
6.Admission requirements
7.Academics
8.Activities
9.Facilities
10.College expenses
11.Campus visits
Thanks.</p>
<p>Chance to get in - and then strength in my major. Overall prestige doesn’t hurt either.</p>