Here are the things that I took into consideration (both for undergraduate and graduate study):
- Do you want to attend a school that operates on the quarter or semester system? (Trust me: this is a BIG deal. I could not have survived my undergraduate study on a semester system. I would have gone crazy. The majority of my friends from outside my university, attend semester schools and think quarters zip by too quickly. It’s a personal preference.)
- How much does tuition cost per quarter/semester? Will you require financial aid to cover the fees? Are you comfortable taking student loans to help cover the cost?
- Do you want to attend a private institution or a public institution?
- What major do you want to study? Is there are a specific emphasis that you are interested in? Certain universities specialize in areas of study (mine is known for its Engineering and Hotel and Hospitality Management programs). This is a good place to narrow down the list. If you are undecided about the major, look for schools that offer a variety of areas that interest you (are you a math person? science? humanities?)
- Do you want an institution that has a diverse student body?
- Do you want to commute to school or dorm on campus? What is the cost of living in the area?
- What extracurricular programs does the school offer? (Athletics, clubs, social events.)
- Location, location, location. I attend a school in southern California. It is relatively large (in terms of student body and space of the campus), hilly (goddamn those treks across campus), and comes equipped with a ranch. It’s a commute school and not for everyone. I know many people who specifically chose schools in dense urban areas, others who chose ones that had lush campus grounds, etc.
I’m sure that I am forgetting a million things. I may check back in with additional comments.