Building Your College List:
My College Preferences

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Narrow Down Your College Preferences

Types of Colleges

  • Public Colleges/Universities. These colleges/universities are funded by local and state governments and usually offer lower tuition rates than private colleges, especially for students who are residents of the state where a college is located. Public colleges/universities can be further divided into two categories:
1) Small state universities that focus on teaching and hands-on learning (CSUs).
2) Larger state universities that focus on research (UCs). 
For a list of public colleges and universities across the country, click here. (Links to an external site.)
 (Links to an external site.) 
  • Private Colleges/Universities. These colleges/universities rely mainly on tuition, fees, and private sources of funding. Private donations can sometimes provide generous financial aid packages for students. For a list of private colleges/universities across the country, click here. 

  • Liberal Arts Colleges. These colleges offer a broad base of courses in the liberal arts, which include areas such as literature, history, languages, mathematics and life sciences. Most are private and offer four-year programs that lead to a bachelor's degree. These colleges can prepare you for a variety of careers or for graduate study. For a list of liberal arts colleges and universities across the country, click here. 

  • Colleges with a Special Focus. These colleges focus on a specific interest or student population. These include the following:
    • Arts colleges
    • Single-sex colleges
    • Religiously affiliated colleges
    • Specialized-mission colleges
College Characteristics
What else sets colleges apart? These are some characteristics that will vary among colleges and will impact your college experience to some degree. As you review the following list, start thinking about what you envision as your ideal environment to meet your needs and your goals. What characteristics in a college are important to you? 
activity
Directions:
Think about each of the following college characteristics and write a description about your personal preferences related to each one. Try to be specific. When you are done, take the time to think about which college characteristics are most important to you.
Size
Questions to consider:
  • Do you feel comfortable in a close-knit learning environment or a place where you can blend in?
  • Do you prefer to be in a smaller class?
  • Do you learn better by actively participating in class discussions with your classmates and teachers? 
  • Do you do well in classes with a focus on lectures? 
  • Is it important to you to have plenty of access to your teachers?

location
Questions to consider:
  • Is it important to you to stay close to home? 
  • Are you open to moving farther away? If so, do you want to stay within driving distance?  A plane ride away?
  • Do you want to be in a specific city, state, or general location?
  • Does weather matter to you? What about your environment such as scenery or landscape?

Majors
Questions to consider:
  • Would you prefer a broad education that allows you to explore different academic interests and possible careers?
  • Is it important to you to have a focus on preparation for a specific career? If so, what career are you considering?

CollegeCulture
Questions to consider:
  • Are you interested in a rigorous and demanding academic environment? 
  • Do you prefer an environment with a balance between the intellectual and social aspects of college?
  • Is it important to you to attend a diverse college or one where there is strong representation of students who share your background?
  • Is it important to you to have an emphasis on religious life?

athletics

other






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