What's a college-bound student to do? How can you possibly decide where to go to school amidst all the academic factors, financial considerations, and personal criteria. Perhaps some student insight into how to choose a college.

Realize Your Determining Factors
When Brian Muelenaer, a senior at Roanoke College (Salem, VA), was nailing down his school choices, he came up with three main factors for choosing a college. For one, he wanted to pick a school with a good business department. He also sought a campus where he felt comfortable and would enjoy living. Lastly, he considered the school's cost and how much financial aid was available on average per student.

"I am satisfied with my decision now that I look back," Brian explains. Not only did the school fulfill his criteria, Brian says the school has also provided him with additional opportunities.

Sandhya Subramanian, a freshman at Babson College (Wellesley, MA), also decided how to choose a college by devising her own criteria. "When I first began to look at colleges, I was extremely overwhelmed and found that there were too many schools I liked," explains the 18-year-old. "So I decided to establish rounds of elimination."

Sandhya's determining categories included schools offering her area of interest (business and management), located near a major city, embodying diversity, and providing impressive safety. Babson not only survived Sandhya's elimination procedure, the school also offered her a scholarship.

Get the 4-1-1 at College Fairs
Maddie West, a freshman at Washington & Jefferson College (Washington, PA), attests that a recruiting event, where the school's dean made a personal visit to her boarding school, solidified her school choice. "I thought [Washington & Jefferson] looked like a nice campus, but when I found out that there was a water polo team, I knew I would be applying there," she recalls.

She was so sure, she applied early action to the liberal arts college and was excited upon reading her acceptance letter. "I was thrilled, but still unsure whether it was definitely the right school for me," she says.

What helped the 18-year-old make her final decision were the recruiting trips the college's dean took to her school. "Dean Newell [visited again] before the decision deadline, which made me all the more confident in my potential role at the school," Maddie explains. "After speaking with him, I knew the school would help me grow as I become a part of its community."

Tour Viable Options
Nikki Fiedler, a sophomore at Rollins College (Winter Park, FL), initially wanted to go to school out of state and far away from her comfort zone through a swimming scholarship, but an injury forced her to reevaluate her choice. Luckily, she saw the bright side of the hurdle. "I realized that I still liked some of the aspects of an in-state school," she recalls.

"After contemplating a move across the country, I came to the conclusion that living that far away from my family was not as enticing as it had been," explains the 19-year-old. Not to mention the financial benefits of going to school in state. That didn't change the fact that Nikki wanted to get out of her hometown of Gainesville and experience new things.

Upon visiting Rollins, Nikki felt it was the perfect option. "It's small, but not too small that I'll know everyone," she attests. "[The school] is personable, beautiful, and located in a larger city that I can explore."

Although you might not be looking for what Nikki was when shopping for colleges, she says that campus tours help in how to choose a college. "First impressions were a crucial component in my evaluation," she recalls. "Visiting helps students realize what's right for them."

When it comes to choosing a college, make sure you consider all the aspects of your life and picture how every one of those aspects will fit into your new school.

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