Ten Things You Should Look For When Picking The Perfect College

Finding the best college or university to attend is a challenging experience. You will be there for a few years, so it is important that you find somewhere where you will be happy. The perfect school will be different for you than for any of your other peers. Here are a few things to be on the lookout for, especially when you are visiting a school!

1. Academic Programs

Does the college you're looking at have a major that fits your academic interests? Will it help you get to where you want to be for a future career?

University of Kentucky, College of Education

2. Distance from Home

How far away from home is it? Will you be an in state or out of state student? Sometimes students want to go far away from home, but others want to remain close.

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3. Location of Campus

Is the campus in a large city? Or is it in the middle of nowhere? Different students thrive in different environments!

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4. Diversity

What are the other students at the school like? Where do they come from? What is the culture, race, and ethnicity of the student body?

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5. Finances

Will this school be affordable for you? Are there any scholarships that you qualify for?

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6. Extracurricular Activities

Studying isn't the only thing you will be doing at school! Are there groups of people or organizations that you can see yourself getting involved with?

Transylvania University

7. Size of the School

Do you want to go to a large or small school? How big is the student body? How does it compare to your high school?

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8. Interactions with Faculty and Students

When you visit the school, are the people there easy to talk to? Do you think you will be able to build relationships with faculty members and your peers?

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9. Housing

Are freshman required to stay in dorms? Where will you be living during your first year? Most of the time, freshmen aren't going to get the nicest dorms available at a school, but make sure you will be living somewhere that you think you'll be okay with staying in for 9 months.

University of Kentucky

10. Atmosphere

Often, the perfect school will just feel right! It's hard to describe why, but when you visit, you might feel at home at a particular school. What is the atmosphere like? Can you see yourself sitting around campus, taking classes, and living in the school's environment?

Mark Cornelison, University of Kentucky