What Is Your Ideal College?

The "Perfect" Fit

Your ideal college must be, above all else, a place where you can thrive. When students find such a place, many say that it "fits," or feels like "home." Keep in mind that such a college may not have everything you want. Each college is a complex mix of qualities. Your final choice may not perfectly meet your needs, but it might be perfectly wonderful anyway.

What College Qualities Work for You?

Before deciding where to apply, you should figure out what makes a college fit your personality and goals. Begin by identifying the college attributes most appealing to you. Imagine yourself on the campus of your dreams and ask yourself the following questions:

• Academics. What is the educational experience like? Is the college exceptionally challenging and competitive academically? Are the academic departments associated with your prospective major strong, offering depth and breadth in the curriculum? How much do undergraduates interact with faculty?
• Outcomes. Will the college enable you to fulfill your educational goals? Do most undergraduates complete their studies and earn a degree? How long do most students take to graduate? Do most graduates, particularly graduates in your major, go on to graduate school or a job in their chosen field within a reasonable amount of time? What are the graduate school placement rates?
• Student life. What does it feel like to be a student at this college? Is the place teeming with students, or is it more like a small town where everybody knows everybody? Would you describe the school as sports-oriented, venerable and sedate, a "party school," alcohol-free, like a ghost town on weekends, or other characteristics? Are there cultural and social activities that interest you, such as clubs, musical and theatrical groups, a Greek (sorority and fraternity) presence, college publications, recreational facilities, sporting events, volunteer opportunities, spiritual communities, and student radio and TV stations?
• Student body. Who else is on campus? Is the student body diverse? Will many of the other students be around your age, graduate students, commuters or extension students, from other states and countries? Does one gender make up the majority of students?
• Selectivity. What type of student does the college admit? Does it select only students with top grades and test scores, or can just about anybody get in? If the school is highly selective, will you be comfortable surrounded by academically accomplished students?
• Affordability. Can you and your family afford it? Will the cost of living in the surrounding community put a strain on your budget? Will you receive adequate financial aid? How much are you willing to borrow? Will you have to work during the school year to afford to attend? If so, how much, and how will that affect your academic performance and social life?
• Type of institution. Is the college private or public? Is it a liberal arts institution (offering a wide variety of majors in the humanities, arts, and sciences) or a specialized one (concentrating on a defined curriculum, such as art, music, business, technology, science, or teaching)? Is it a research institution, offering doctoral degrees to a large population of graduate students? Or is the college focused on undergraduates?
• Location and setting. What's the weather like? Is it near your home, in your state, or across the country? Is it in or near a big city or in a sleepy, rural setting? How far is the school from the mountains, ocean, or other significant natural features? Is the campus expansive and park-like, compact, ivy-covered, or architecturally modern? Is the campus served by public transportation? Does the surrounding community provide the diversions you're looking for, such as museums, parks, performing arts venues, restaurants, nightclubs, sports teams, movie theaters, and other cultural amenities?
• Size. Does the school feel large or small? Will you attend lectures with hundreds of students or small discussion-oriented seminars? Is the campus big, with impressive libraries and many academic and recreational opportunities? Or small enough to get to know almost everyone, including your professors? Or something in between?
• Affiliation. Is the college associated with a religious group or other organization with a specific focus? How does that affiliation affect academic and campus life?
• Housing and facilities. Is the on-campus housing comfortable? After freshman year, how many students live off-campus in the surrounding area? How many commute from a greater distance? Are the buildings in good condition? What technology resources are available to students? How easy is it to get around campus? What security is in place?
• Sports and recreation. Are intercollegiate sports a big focus? Is there a lot of school spirit? What sports are included in the intramural program? Do many students participate in intramurals? What types of recreational facilities are available to students?

Going from Ideal to Real

With a clearer understanding of the factors you need to succeed at college, you are well on your way to finding the school that's right for you. As a next step, try to visit a few colleges, even local ones, to experience what they are like and test your ideas with some real campus experiences.

Once your list of desirable attributes becomes stable, your next step will be to figure out which factors are most important to you, and which ones you can live without. For help with this, check out the article From Dreams to Reality. You can also visit the College Buzz page to read personal stories of how students discovered their own ideal colleges.