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With thousands to choose from, how do I make sure I pick the right college?



QUESTION: I’ve heard that college is supposed to be the best four years of my life. With thousands to choose from, how do I make sure to pick the right one? I don’t want to make a mistake on such an important decision. Signed, Only the Best

Dear Only the Best: Before you start looking at colleges, take a look at yourself. Develop a list of what’s important to you in a college. Begin with what you think you want to major in and what career directions you might take. Consider how much attention you think you need in the classroom and what kind of setting you learn best in. What kind of campus environment would you like—urban, rural, politically active, single sex, conservative, liberal, socially lively, close to home? When you’ve developed some priorities, speak with your counselor, parents, and college students you know to ask for their insights. Visit college websites and read college directories. On websites like SuperCollege.com, you can search colleges based on your personal criteria. Also, don’t believe that there is only one college that you will be happy at. Realize that it’s important to choose a college that matches you and your goals, but a lot of your college experience is what you make of it.


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Gen & Kelly Tanabe

Gen and Kelly Tanabe are the founders of SuperCollege and the award-winning authors of 11 books on college admission, financial aid and scholarships. Together they were accepted to all of the Ivy League colleges and won more than $100,000 in merit-based scholarships to graduate from Harvard debt-free.