Choosing the Best Colleges for You

Choosing universities from thousands of miles away presents some challenges - especially when there are so many great colleges to choose from in the United States. But if you plan ahead and do your research carefully, you will come up with a manageable list of colleges that match your needs. Every student is different, and when making your choices you should consider carefully the factors that are important to you. This chapter discusses what academic, lifestyle, and other factors to consider when putting together a list of 10 to 20 colleges, and it offers guidelines on where to get further help and information. You should begin this process of reflection and research 12 to 18 months before you want to start studying in the United States.

Sources of Information to Help You Choose

EducationUSA Advising Centers
There are EducationUSA advising centers in almost every country around the world, and they are the ideal starting point for your research. Centers usually have a library with directories, university catalogs, introductory guides, handouts, and reference books to assist you in applying to study in the United States. Most offer Internet access and have computer-based college search packages to help you choose the best colleges for you. Many have also developed guides, videos, and websites specifically tailored to students applying from your country. They all have trained staff who can answer your questions in person, by telephone, or by e-mail.

College Searches on the Web
Some websites are independent of colleges and universities and allow you to search for institutions by the subject you are interested in studying, by geographic preference, or by a range of other criteria that you specify -- the Find-a-School search engine (run by Peterson’s) located on the EducationUSA website is one such site.

Before beginning these searches online, it is important to ask yourself a series of questions about the kind of university experience you are looking for in the United States: Do you want to live in a big city, or do you prefer a more rural or suburban location? Do you want to attend an institution that has tens of thousands of students, or are you looking for a small or mid-size college or university? Do you want to live on the campus of the institution you attend or would you prefer to live off campus? By answering these questions and others you can refine your search criteria and generate a list of schools that are closely matched with your needs.

College Websites and E-mail
Almost every U.S. University has a website with information about degree programs, application procedures, academic departments, facilities on campus, and other topics. Many sites include a copy of the college catalog and e-mail addresses for current students (including international students) who can answer your questions. If you don’t find this information on the website, ask the admissions office.

Social Media Tools
Students can access information about U.S. graduate programs through a variety of technological tools and formats. Online videos, social networking groups, podcasts, and blogs about life on U.S. campuses offer genuine stories and experiences directly from students. EducationUSA advising centers can assist you in finding these resources.

U.S. College/University Fairs and Visits
If you cannot visit the United States, university representatives may come to visit you. Your nearest EducationUSA advising center can tell you about upcoming fairs or other types of visits that give students an opportunity to speak with admissions officers face-to-face. A list of fairs around the world is available on the EducationUSA website.

Campus Visits
If you are able to take a vacation to the United States before you begin graduate studies, this could be a great opportunity to visit the programs you are considering. Many schools organize tours led by current students; check with the admissions office for further information. Visit the academic and housing facilities, the student union, and the library to get a good sense of the campus. Talk to current students in the programs you are considering.

Educational Consultants and Recruiting Agents
In many parts of the world, private agents or agencies work to recruit international students into U.S. universities. There are also private educational consultants who charge a fee to assist students with the process of choosing programs and compiling applications. It is important to check the credentials and past performance of educational consultants or agents before using their services. If you do decide to use the services of an agent, be actively involved in the process, and be sure to understand what that person or company is realistically able to deliver.

If you have found a recruiting agent or consultant, look for verifiable signs of the agent's or consultant's past success with students from your country. Ask for a list of names and addresses of references, particularly current students. Write, e-mail, or telephone some of these students to get their opinion of their program and the services they received from the agent or consultant. Such precautions are especially important if the agent or consultant charges expensive fees for his or her services. Always check with an unbiased source (such as an EducationUSA advising center) to ensure the legitimacy and accreditation status of the programs you are considering.

Academic Considerations

Accreditation and Recognition of Degrees
An important indicator of the quality of any U.S. college or university is its accreditation status. Unlike many other countries, the United States does not have a central government office that approves educational institutions. Instead, it relies on a system of voluntary accreditation carried out by non-governmental accrediting bodies to ensure that schools meet standards.

While almost all U.S. colleges hold widely recognized forms of accreditation, accreditation in the United States is a complex area; there are different types of accreditation and a large number of accrediting bodies. There is also no legal requirement that degree-offering institutions be accredited or hold a particular form of accreditation. Because of this complexity, you should check carefully whether a degree from the institutions you are applying to will be recognized by your home country government and any relevant professional associations, ministries, or employers in your country. You should also talk to graduates who have returned to your country to see if they have been successful in applying degrees earned from such institutions to their chosen professions. If you think you might wish to transfer from one U.S. college to another during your undergraduate studies, or if you might want to pursue graduate study in the United States, you should also check whether other U.S. universities will recognize credits and degrees from the colleges you are considering.

EducationUSA advising centers can advise you regarding recognition of U.S. degrees in your country and tell you whether a U.S. degree-offering institution is appropriately accredited.

Major
Your major is the field of study in which you plan to specialize. It is not essential to declare a major when you enter a university. If you have a definite degree objective, however, you need to identify universities offering that field.

Some subjects are taught at many universities. Knowing which subject you wish to major in may help, but you could still be left with a long list of institutions from which to choose. If there is a particular specialization within a field that interests you (for example, if you are interested in 20th-century history, or environmental geography, or painting within a fine arts degree), identifying which schools offer that specialization will also help you draw up a shortlist of institutions.

Most directories of U.S. universities list schools by the most commonly offered majors. Computer-based search packages available on the Internet or at EducationUSA advising centers can also help you narrow down your choices. Make use of college catalogs and bulletins to check if institutions offer the subjects in which you are interested and that the programs have the particular focus you want.

Academic Emphasis
You should check to see how the university emphasizes its curriculum. Is the emphasis on professional education or liberal arts? Do undergraduate or graduate students dominate the campus? Many liberal arts colleges emphasize teaching and professor-student interaction, rather than research, so the teacher-to-student ratio is quite low. Some research-centered campuses are dominated by graduate students, but the facilities at these universities are often state-of-the-art and the professors world-renowned.

Selectivity
Because the U.S. university system is so extensive, admissions requirements vary greatly. Highly selective private universities and liberal arts colleges may receive enormous numbers of applicants and accept only a small number, while other colleges may accept all applicants who meet their admission standards. Most university directories and college catalogs list the number of applicants and the number of students accepted the previous year, plus the average SAT score, ACT score, and grade point average (GPA) for the previous year's accepted students. Remember, however, that admissions officers look at a variety of factors, including essays, prizes, community service and work experience, hobbies, and special talents as they review applications to try to determine students’ potential for success at their institutions.

Degree Program Structure
You should study the course catalog and course descriptions for each institution. Many international students choose the U.S. system because it is flexible enough to allow them to choose courses according to their interests. However, degree programs in some subject areas are highly structured, and universities dictate exactly which courses a student must take and when in order to graduate with a major in that area. This type of prescribed coursework limits flexibility and, for example, does not allow student athletes to have a lighter workload during the playing season or permit motivated students to pursue a double major.

It is important to check the requirements of any majors you may wish to pursue. For example, if you want to major in engineering but also want to gain a strong academic background in business, be sure to check the requirements of the engineering degree - are they too numerous to allow you to take additional business courses, or is there a specific program for people who wish to combine engineering with a related subject?

There is also great variation between course requirements in liberal arts colleges. Some colleges require students to take a certain number of classes in specified subject groups, while other liberal arts colleges have no such requirements, merely making the "strong recommendation" that students complete a well-rounded education.

Advanced Standing
U.S. students begin higher education after 12 years of elementary and secondary education. Some U.S. universities award advanced credit to students from education systems with 13 years of elementary and secondary education or those who have taken the International Baccalaureate. Students who have undertaken postsecondary vocational and technical diplomas, certificates, or similar programs may also qualify for some credit toward their degree. Such students may not have to be enrolled for the full four years in the United States and may be able to enter university with advanced standing. You should ask admissions officers about this possibility and read chapter 10, "Transferring to a U.S. University," for further details.

Student-to-Teacher Ratio
At large universities, undergraduate freshman and sophomore classes are usually large, and you are likely to be taught by graduate students rather than professors. At a college, where there are fewer graduate students, you are likely to be taught by a professor and will be required to make a greater contribution to classes from the start. A high student-to-teacher ratio indicates that classes will be large, reducing the amount of attention faculty can give to individual students.

Lifestyle Considerations

 Cost
Financing your education is a very important consideration, and you should read chapter 6 of this booklet for further details about calculating costs and the possibility of receiving financial aid. Know what you can realistically afford before applying. Carefully study the fee structures printed in university catalogs, and incorporate the cost of room, food, tuition, fees, travel, and other expenses into your calculations for the full four years. You also need to consider that tuition costs may rise, as many universities increase their tuition every year. Be sure to compare the payment plans of various institutions.

Housing
Since all colleges have different housing facilities and policies, find out if housing is available for all four years of enrollment or if students are required to find off-campus housing. Investigate the price difference between on-campus and off-campus housing. Check the living arrangements for on-campus housing; students living in dormitories may be required to share a room with one, two, or three other students. Living on campus, at least for the first year or two, may help you integrate into U.S. university life more easily and quickly. It can also save you the additional expense of buying a car or paying for daily public transportation, as well as the time needed to travel back and forth to campus each day. By your junior year, however, you may wish to move off campus into your own apartment. Be sure to find out the university's policy on such a move, as well as the cost and availability of local housing.

Location
Every region of the United States offers both urban and rural settings. City-based campuses offer a variety of eating, entertainment, cultural, and shopping facilities. A rural university may mean a quieter, more college-centered environment. Climate is another consideration. From the four seasons in the Northeast to the desert in Arizona and a sub-tropical climate in Florida, the variety is almost endless. Also keep in mind accessibility to local facilities and services that could be useful to you in your studies. For example, if you wish to major in art history, does the school offer programs that involve students with nearby museums and art galleries?

Size
Student populations on U.S. campuses range in size from 200 to 60,000 students. Some universities resemble small cities with their own post offices, grocery stores, and shopping centers. Other colleges may be in large, densely populated urban areas but have a very small enrollment. Depending on your lifestyle, you may enjoy the independence afforded by being part of a very large student population on your campus, or you may prefer the more personal touch of a small college. You should not make assumptions regarding social life or access to professors based on the size of an institution.

College Environment

Social Life
Most U.S. colleges offer students a variety of social, cultural, and sports activities in addition to their academic programs. The level to which each is emphasized helps determine the social environment on campus. Whether the majority of the students live on or off a university campus also has an impact. At colleges referred to as commuter schools, most students live off campus and commute to classes. Potential undergraduates will want to know what the atmosphere is like during the weekends on campus - do most students stay at the university or leave to take trips or return home to visit family every weekend? All of these factors will have an effect on the campus social life.

Fraternities and Sororities
Fraternities and sororities are national social organizations with smaller groups or “chapters” on campuses throughout the United States. Perhaps most well known for the parties and social activities they organize, fraternities and sororities also sponsor philanthropic activities and take part in community service projects. Together fraternities (for men) and sororities (for women) comprise the “Greek system.”  The term "Greek" is used because the names of fraternities and sororities are composed of two or three Greek letters. Fraternities and sororities can be the focus of undergraduate social life on many U.S. campuses. If you have a strong preference for or against the Greek system, find out whether fraternities and sororities dominate the social life at the colleges and universities to which you are applying. If you do not wish to be part of Greek life, attending a university where the Greek scene is prevalent could be problematic, because the pressure to join might be high and the social life options outside of the system limited.

International Students
The number of international students enrolled at U.S. colleges ranges from less than 10 to more than 7,000. College directories often list exactly how many international students are enrolled alongside other data on each institution. EducationUSA advising centers usually have a variety of reference books that can provide you with this type of information.

When considering these figures, think about your own needs. On campuses where there are few international students you may be considered a very special person to get to know. However, you may find that these schools provide fewer services for international students. Campuses with many international students may provide a built-in support group that can share your experiences, but it may require extra effort on your part to make sure you meet and interact with U.S. students.

Affiliations
While all U.S. colleges will accept students of any race, color, or creed, a small percentage of universities were founded with missions to provide a religious atmosphere on campus, a single-sex educational experience, or a place where students from a particular background can live and learn together. We recommend that you read the mission statements of the schools to which you plan to apply to decide if your goals match the goals of the campuses. Out of more than 4,000 U.S. colleges and universities, there are more than 800 affiliated with a specific church denomination or religious tradition, approximately 60 colleges for men only, and approximately 50 for women only. The U.S. higher education system also includes institutions that serve students from a specific background such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions (HSIs), and tribal colleges and universities.

Extracurricular Activities
U.S. universities offer many extracurricular activities such as sports, academic clubs, university newspapers, drama productions, and community service projects. If you have a definite interest, make sure there is a student society that caters to it - don't forget, though, that if there isn't, you can always start one. Learning about various student organizations will help you better understand student life at different colleges.

Other Considerations

Beyond the Ivy League
The"Ivy League" now associated with a group of eight highly exclusive institutions was originally a sports league for several East Coast colleges. Many international students begin their U.S. college search assuming they must attend an Ivy League institution to get a good education.  While the Ivy League schools are all excellent institutions, it is important to remember that there are more than 4,000 U.S. colleges and universities from which to choose. Do not dismiss a university or college just because you have not heard of it before; you should consider your own needs first. Investigate all options carefully to make sure you find institutions that suit your own needs and interests.

Rankings
There is no official list of the top 10, 20, 50, or even 100 universities in the United States. The U.S. government does not rank universities. Many rankings are subjective and may be based on criteria that do not include academic standards or general reputation as primary factors. In addition, many good schools choose not to provide information to the organizations that produce rankings. Be particularly wary of rankings that do not explain the criteria on which they are based. The more established rankings can provide a starting point for your search, but the "best" college is the one that is right for you based on the factors suggested in this chapter.

Student Services
U.S. universities offer students a variety of services such as international student offices, campus orientation programs, counseling services, legal aid services, housing offices, varied meal plans, health centers, tutoring facilities, English as a Second Language programs, writing laboratories, and career counseling. Compare facilities among universities to find the services that meet your specific needs.

Internship or Overseas Study Programs
Many U.S. universities have incorporated internship (voluntary or paid work placements) or overseas study programs into their curriculum that may be of interest to you.

Students with Disabilities
If you have special needs, make sure that the university you choose can accommodate you. Allow plenty of time to correspond with colleges. Begin your inquiries at least two years before you plan to leave for the United States. When you write for information from universities, give brief details of your disability and request information about assistance for students like you. You may also want to contact the office on campus that deals with the special needs of students with disabilities to find out more about the available services. This may be a specific office such as the Office of Disabled Student Services or the Office of Disability Services, or it may be housed within a general student services office on campus.

Some colleges offer comprehensive programs for students with learning disabilities, while others make a number of special services available to such students. You and your family should look at the services offered and compare them to your needs. Find out which services are provided automatically and free of charge, and which services need to be pre-arranged and incur a charge. When you apply you will need to supply evidence to support the existence of your disability. If possible, contact a student at the college who has a similar disability to yours so you can gain a more personal perspective, and visit the campus if you can. Students with disabilities can, with proper documentation, request special facilities or extended time to take the SAT and ACT undergraduate admissions tests and course examinations during the academic year.