Choosing the Right College

Yikes! Between all the unsolicited mail you're getting from NoIdea U., college fairs, and everyone you know offering their opinions, how do you figure out which school would be best for you? Here are some handy-dandy guidelines to follow to avoid common pitfalls and make the right decision.

Where to go?

You should spend time thinking about the "must-haves" of a college. For some, location is an important factor. For others, size (big or small) definitely matters. Does the school have a strong athletics program? Are students very intellectual? Or are you interested in a school's drama or art department? Different students have different needs and interests. Find out which schools are a potential fit for you.

Check that price again

A state school at first glance may seem a fraction of the cost of a private college or university. But do students at state schools generally graduate in four years? As a rule, not many do. Check that state school's four-year graduation rate before choosing it over a private school for cost reasons.

Talk to alumni from your high school

Or contact someone from your high school who's currently attending a particular college or university. Asking just any student at a college their opinion of the school can be helpful, but doesn't offer the same insight as someone who comes from a similar background as you.

How to Get into College

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Kaplan and Newsweek have teamed up to help you with every aspect of college admissions--from choosing a school to college life; from applying to paying for it all. Plus, get the lowdown on all the hot schools. Learn more.

Stats worth noting

While rankings can vary widely, and don't necessarily give you relevant information, you should find out a school's freshman year retention rate (it should be 93 percent or better) and the alumni giving rate (which should be around 60 percent). These both reflect how students feel about the school--whether they like it enough to stay, and whether they remember it fondly enough to give money back