by Jocelyn Pearce

Created on: February 11, 2009

There are thousands of universities scattered across the world. Out of all of these, it's up to you to choose the one that will provide you with the best possible education and life experiences. Sound difficult? It is, but it's not impossible, and it's worth taking time on. This is a decision that will affect not only the next 3-4 years of your life (depending on where you live), but the quality of the opportunities you'll have after finishing school.

First and foremost, consider the education you'll get. You want a quality education in all subject areas, but pay particular attention to the department you want to major in. Read about the professors and the reputation of the program. Figure out if you are more suited to small seminars or large lectures, and find a school that teaches in the way that is best for you.

You'll probably want to be involved on campus when you're not in class, too. If you want to join an Amnesty International group or an Ultimate Frisbee club, see if the school already has these things or if you would be able to start a group when you got there.

Also pay attention to what the student body is like. If most students are artsy and your passion is sports, it's probably not the school for you. Imagine yourself being friends with these people, and even living with some of them.

Location is often underestimated. This is the city you'll be spending eight or nine months of the year living in, so make sure you love it or you'll be spending all your time on campus. If you want to get an internship in a particular field, consider which cities make this most possible.

Look beyond the universities everyone in your high school is applying to. Look at other states, or even other countries. Most schools offer need-based financial aid and merit scholarships, and even if you don't think you'll be able to afford it, you know you won't if you don't try. If money is a big concern, focus your application list on schools that are good, but not the best you can get into. They'll be more likely to offer you scholarships, and may have opportunities like honors programs for their best students that make them a great value.

The best advice I can offer, though, is not to get your heart set on one school to early in the process, in case you're not admitted or can't afford to attend. Apply only to schools you love and can see yourself attending, but don't worry about ranking them in order of preference until you've got your acceptance letters and financial aid offers to compare.

Make sure not to stress too much; this will be a wonderfully rewarding decision if you do your research, but don't become too preoccupied with the right choice, because chances are, there's more than one school that's right for you.

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