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What Do You Want from Your College?

Before you apply to college, decide what you want from college.

The US has thousands of colleges and universities, but choosing the college you will grace with an application is easier than you think … if you know what questions to ask yourself.

Unlike most questions you will face in your college classes, the questions you should ask yourself when choosing a college have no right or wrong answers. Yet how you answer them could determine whether you end up in a small liberal arts school in the sunny southwest, a large university in Northeast ski country or somewhere — anywhere — in between.

Academic Possibilities

You’re attending college for an advanced education, so you certainly should find out if the academic offerings of a college meet your needs before you apply there.

• Do you want to attend large labs or small classes?

• Would you prefer a strict curriculum or more elective classes?

• Does the college have the academic resources you need?

The Social Scene on Campus

You’ll spend more hours of the day outside of a classroom than inside. The campus social setting will play a big part on whether those hours are happy ones.

• Is the location of the college important to you?

• Does diversity in the student body matter to you?

• Are college sports teams a vital part of your campus experience?

• Have you considered both single sex schools and co-ed schools?

The Total Cost of a College Education

Remember: It’s more than tuition. College costs include room and board, books and social activities.

• What’s your limit?

Know What You Want?

Deciding what you want from a college is the first step toward choosing the college where you will soon attend. But it’s not the last step!

Now that you know what’s important to you, find out the types of colleges that meet your qualifications.

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