Colleges and Universities

While researching colleges and universities to possibly attend, a good starting place can be websites that are packed with information about higher education. A wealth of important data, like tuition and room and board, majors, location, financial aid and study guides can be found on the internet, and in a number of print publications that catalog this vital information for a college search.

Starting Place for Colleges and Universities

If you are in need of a good starting place, or would like specific information about certain state colleges and universities, you can try www.StateUniversity.com. This website has a college ranking system of the top 2000 colleges, a free college comparison tool, comprehensive school profiles and information about academics on its website. It also includes valuable information about financial aid and student loan consolidation.

Academic Info on Colleges and Universities

As an example, if a student is interested in Cornell University, the school’s page on www.StateUniversity.com details where the school ranks overall in the rankings, its tuition, SAT/ACT requirements, enrollment, and other important information. Detailed academic information is also included. A student can learn about Cornell’s history, campus, class size, degrees, admission, financial aid, and campus life, along with other important information. This tool would help in any search for colleges and universities.

Other Sources

There are a number of other sources out there to gain detailed information on colleges and universities, and students should use as many as possible when doing a college search. U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, Peterson’s, among others. Each has its own ranking system along with data and information about the schools.

Rankings for Colleges and Universities

Rankings are one way of doing a search for colleges and universities. The rankings look at a number of metrics to determine what are the best colleges and universities, both overall and in specific categories like majors or campus life. The rankings measure research, influence, student choices, career paths, demographics, and use surveys to compile data. While rankings are only one area to consider when choosing a school, they are routinely consulted by students and school officials at colleges and universities.

Other Factors

While rankings are an important part of the process, when researching colleges and universities, one should focus on a number of different areas to make the right choice. Students need to figure out why they want to go to school and which one will fit their needs. While some will focus on name-brand schools like those in the Ivy League, there are thousands of colleges and universities out there, and perhaps a lesser-known school can provide a better education for what the student wants. By using the information websites like www.StateUniversity.com, students can research other important factors when selecting colleges and universities. The enrollment of the school can have a big impact on a student’s experiences there. Some students will excel in larger schools, while others may find a smaller school to be more to their liking.

Undecided Majors

Sometimes, students do not know what they want to major in, and have to decide on picking colleges and universities based on other factors. The fact is, most high school seniors do not know what they will be doing in five years, and trying to figure out a career path at a young age can be difficult. Colleges and universities offer so many programs of study, students can choose a school where they will get variety and a broad depth of classes to help them figure out the next steps in life. Researching various colleges and universities will give students a good idea of what’s out there to study, and selecting a college that can give students some educational options may be the best decision.

The Right Fit

Ultimately, students need to find colleges and universities that will be the right fit for them, and use factors like financial aid, areas of study and campus life to help them figure out where schools is the best for them. The right college will match up with the student’s interests and needs, and spending time during the college search will help find the right one.