Choosing the perfect college is equal parts exciting and overwhelming. Classes, tuition, dorms, location, sports, and student life are all important factors to consider when picking where you’ll spend the next four years. And while it’s totally okay to not know what major you want to pursue yet (many schools let you apply undecided!), this might make your decision-making process a little more complicated. But you can find a college that’s right for you by asking yourself a few simple questions.
When choosing the perfect college, one of the first big points to consider is where you want to be. Do you want to be in a suburban or urban area? Would you rather surround yourself with skyscrapers or a classic quad? Do you want to live on campus or commute? Starting here will help you narrow down your options, and you can start scheduling campus tours ASAP. To get started, take our quiz below to find the right college for you.
IF YOU ANSWERED MOSTLY WITH THE FIRST COLUMN…
You might like a city school best. Let’s be honest, you belong in a big metropolis like New York, LA, or Miami — maybe even Paris or London. Your perfect fit is a school with a city campus, like New York University, Northwestern, The George Washington University, or Boston University. Although, if you have a flair for the arts, you might also fare well at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), Parsons, or Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). Unlike typical college campuses, schools in urban areas are typically spread throughout the city, so getting to class often means exploring different streets and neighborhoods every day. You have access to incredible food, shopping, museums, and cultural events. But remember, many of these activities can cost major $$$ and you might be on a limited budget. Keep this in mind and check out student discounts wherever possible!
IF YOU ANSWERED MOSTLY WITH THE SECOND COLUMN…
You should probably go to a smaller, suburban college, or local school. You want a great education but prefer smaller class sizes, a larger sense of community, and more accessibility to professors. If you don’t love the idea of being super far from home or living with tons of people you don’t know, you could also look into commuting to a local college. You’ll be able to live at home, save money, and spend time with family and friends without missing out on challenging classes or meeting new people. Think about it, commuting is a total win-win: When you’re tired of home, you get to leave and hang out at school and vice versa. Just be aware of how you’ll commute and how long it will take you to get there since it will become a significant part of your daily life. If you choose to live on campus, you could reside in a quintessential red-brick dorm building overlooking the quad, à la Essex College in The Sex Lives of College Girls, and explore all of the nearby picturesque small towns on the weekends.
IF YOU ANSWERED EVENLY BETWEEN THE TWO...
You should go to a large state school like UCLA, University of North Carolina, Penn State, or Michigan State. These types of universities are usually set in large “college towns” (read: towns full of young people), with lots of activities and opportunities for students. Because these schools are so large, you’ll find the most options here — from classes to sports to extracurriculars. State schools are publicly funded and often more affordable, so they also tend to be super competitive. Keep this in mind and try to apply early decision or early action if there’s one you have your heart set on.
