How Do Students Choose a College to Attend… and How Should You Make Your Choice?

1. College has very good academic reputation (63.7 percent)
2. This college's graduates get good jobs (54.6 percent)
3. I was offered financial assistance (44.0 percent)
4. A visit to the campus (42.5 percent)
5. The cost of attending this college (40.6 percent)
6. College has a good reputation for its social activities (38.6 percent)
7. Wanted to go to a college about this size (38.1 percent)
8. College's grads get into top grad/professional schools (33.4 percent)
9. I wanted to live near home (18.9 percent)
10. Information from a website (18.5 percent)
11. Rankings in national magazines (18.2 percent)
12. Admitted early decision and/or early action (15.0 percent)
13. Parents wanted me to go to this school (14.3 percent)
14. Could not afford first choice (12.6 percent)
15. High school counselor advised me (9.5 percent)
16. Not offered aid by first choice (9.3 percent)
17. Athletic department recruited me (8.3 percent)
18. Attracted by religious affiliation/orientation of college (6.8 percent)
19. My relatives wanted me to come here (6.1 percent)
20. My teacher advised me (6.0 percent)
21. Private college counselor advised me (3.5 percent)
22. Ability to take online courses (2.7 percent)

It is not surprising that the most important factors in making this decision related to academics and financial aid. These are important factors each and every year.

And while there is nothing wrong with the top selections on this list, I'd like to add a bit of information to each of them.

1. "College has very good academic reputation." A strong reputation is great-but don't depend solely on it. Speak to current students and recent graduates and ask them about their experience. Did the academic environment live up to their expectations?

2. "This college's graduates get good jobs." This is an incredibly important factor in your decision-but make sure that the college in question has a track record of placing graduates in your specific field in these jobs. Depending on the major you intend to pursue, a college's track record for job placement may be substantially better or worse than their overall average.