Where should I go to college?

Deciding where to attend college can be one of the most complicated decisions of your adult life. You want to be happy and experience new challenges.

If only college bound individuals could punch their unique characteristics into a computer and have it spit out the name of the perfect school! This would eliminate the pain and aggregation of attempting to guess which school you should attend.

Or, what if every school around the country had the same people, activities and academic curriculum? Determining where to attend college would be easier.

However life is not easy so why should the college decision process be? There are so many questions you should consider when deciding to go to college. Some depend on your individual preferences. Here are a few questions to consider when researching colleges:

How much will it cost to return home? How would you get home? If you attend college in your hometown, travel costs would consist of a gallon of gas. However if you attend college several states away, you will have to factor in plane or train expenses into your budget for college.

Should you attend school on the West coast or the East coast? Should you try your luck with the South or Midwest? Each geographic area has its own identity, right? If you attend school in Tennessee, you will receive a different experience than those who attend school in Los Angeles.

Do you want something similar or different than what you have been accustomed to in high school? If you live in the city, do you want to experience life in a rural area? If you live in the rural areas do you want to try your luck in the big city?

Do you want a college with an active student body? Do you want the college to depend on the community for social outlets? Do you care if the college is devoid of activities on and off campus? Are you planning to join a fraternity, sorority or a specific club? Is diversity important to you? Is it important for you to attend an all female college? A Black college? A religious college?

Do you want to attend college in cold weather or warm weather? Do you want to catch some sun between classes in Los Angeles or pick ice cycles off your eyebrow while walking to the dining hall in Chicago?

Do you want to attend a public or private school? Private schools may provide a more intimate feel.

Are you interested in a particular academic program? Are specific department reputations important to you? Are you interested in majoring in a particular area that may not exist at all colleges?

What is the graduation rate? How many students actually graduate from the college? Is the rate more than 50%? 80%? A low graduation rate could mean that students find the coursework difficult or the environment not conducive to learning.

Ultimately you should chose a college that challenges you mentally and will help you achieve your future goals.