When we think of earning an undergraduate or graduate degree, we often assume that the best school for us should be defined by how Times Higher Education, Academic Ranking of World Universities, or U.S. News and World Report rank North American colleges and universities. Sure, schools with world-renowned reputations can open many doors for their graduates. However, it is important to consider other factors – besides a school’s name – when deciding where to apply for your undergraduate or graduate degree: admissions requirements, what the school offers its students, and the school’s social atmosphere.

One of the most practical yardsticks to help you choose where to apply to college or university is a school’s admissions requirements. Each school on your wish list should have admissions requirements for domestic and international students posted on their website. Study them. In addition to the application fee (which is usually around $50 USD), applicants are normally required to submit official transcripts, standardized exam scores (like the SAT, GRE and TOEFL), letters of recommendation, and a personal statement or essay of some sort. International students are also often asked to submit bank statements as well. Always contact the admissions office if you have a question about their admissions requirements. You don’t want to ruin your chances of getting into a school of your choice because your application materials aren’t complete; and you don’t want to waste money applying to a school when you don’t meet the minimum qualifications.

After carefully weighing a school’s admissions requirements and identifying what you can offer a college or university as a student, it’s a good idea to examine what each school on your wish list can offer you. Does the school have your academic major or graduate area of research? What type of research have the department’s professors done (This is a good indication of the types of courses which are taught at a particular school.), and are you sure that certain professors work with undergraduate and/or graduate students? What resources does the school provide current students and their alumni? What type of financial aid is offered? These are just some of the valuable questions to ask yourself when trying to narrow down which schools meet your needs as a student and future professional.

Another need you want to take into account is the social environment of each school on your wish list. No, I’m not talking about which school throws the best parties or has the best looking people. I’m talking about how comfortable you believe you’d feel at a school based on demographics. How large or small is the school? What’s the political climate like? Who are your peers and where do they come from? What organizations and/or student unions are available for students with your background or interests? What makes you stand out, and will that difference be accepted? What’s life like off-campus? Of course, we come from a long history of resilience, so, it would be very difficult to deter us from earning a degree from a certain school just because of the social climate. On the other hand, feeling comfortable socially – on as many levels as possible – is bound to make your college/university experience that much richer.

Admissions requirements, benefits offered to students, and the school’s social atmosphere are not the only three factors in deciding where to earn your degree; but they are the three that can best help you find the college or university with the right fit – not the “right” name – for who you are.

Below is a short list of websites that can put you on the path of choosing the best college or university for you. Good luck!

Web U.S. Higher Education

http://www.utexas.edu/world/univ/

Peterson’s

http://www.petersons.com/

Braintrack

http://www.braintrack.com/us-colleges

* Choosing a College and Getting Accepted (CCGA) will be a weekly series of posts with information and tips for prospective US undergraduate/graduate students. All comments and feedback are greatly appreciated.