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| Name | Description |
| Academics | How well does this school perform academically? |
| Academic Offerings | Does this school provide a well-rounded, challenging academic environment that will help you reach your goals? (Consider diversity of course offerings and taking classes outside of your major.) |
| Courses | How difficult are the courses offered at this school? (Consider the breadth and depth of courses offered,) |
| Core Classes | How well rounded is the set of core classes which all students are required to take in order to graduate? |
| Course Difficulty | Are the classes offered challenging with reasonable academic demands? |
| Course Selection Breadth | If you desire to take courses outside of your expected major, how available, extensive and intriguing are the offerings? |
| Courses Per Term | How fitting is the minimum number of credit hours per term to be a full-time student? |
| Reading Requirement | How well does the amount of required reading suit you? (Consider how well prepared you are for such a load.) |
| Select Classes | How flexible is the school when it comes to taking single classes while not actually enrolled as a full-time student? |
| Writing Requirement | How well do writing requirements suit you? (Consider required composition classes, required term papers, required thesis papers, etc.) |
| Auditing | To what extent will this school allow you to audit classes for which you have not paid and for which you receive no credit? |
| Degree Offerings | Does this school offer the degrees you are looking for? |
| Honors Societies | Are honors societies supported and is membership attainable? |
| Student Tutoring | How adequate is the offered tutoring help? Consider the strength of the tutoring program, the availability of tutors, the quality of the tutors and any special needs that you might have, such as help in the area of writing or mathematics. |
| Class Withdrawal | How limiting is the deadline and/or the fee for dropping unneeded or unwanted classes? |
| Academic Competition | How comfortable are you with the level of academic competition between students? |
| Academic Calendar | How convenient is the school’s calendar compared to your desired schedule? |
| Break Length | How well do the holiday breaks fit with your notion of how much time off you will need? |
| Class Times | Is the weekly class structure (i.e. Mon-Wed-Fri or Tues-Thurs) convenient for you? |
| Summer and Winter Courses | What is the overall availability of summer or winter courses? |
| Semester Schedule | How comfortable are you with this school's semester system? (Consider whether this school has standard semesters, quarters, trimesters or some other system and the workload imposed by this type of schedule.) |
| Advanced Study | If you are considering advancing beyond the average student in your field, how prepared is the school to support you? (Consider thesis options, teaching options, etc.) |
| Departmental Thesis | Does your department of study let you write a thesis in your final years? |
| Independent Research | How open is the school to allowing ambitious students to study for credit topics of interest outside offered classes? |
| Publications | How active is the school in publishing student work to academic journals and publications? |
| Student-Teaching | How open is the department to advanced students being given opportunities to teach classes? |
| Co-op Offerings | Does the school let you work in the field and attend the university concurrently and conveniently? |
| Variety | Does the school offer a wide variety of co-op offerings? |
| Technical/Non-Technical | How well suited to your major and desires is the work offered? (Consider also whether the work available is of a technical or non-technical nature.) |
| Long-Term Commitment | Are you prepared for any employer required commitments regarding post-graduation employment? |
| Increasing Pay | How fast does the employer update your pay as you accrue more academic training? |
| School Reputation | How well known is this institution for its pursuit of excellence, especially in the field in which you are interested? |
| Accreditation/Certification | How satisfying are the academic credentials of this school? (Consider whether the school is accredited to offer degrees in your desired field. The U.S. Department of Education website has listings of accrediting agencies and accredited schools.) |
| Alumni | What is the general attitude of the alumni toward their alma mater? |
| Alumni Activity and Support | How active and supportive are alumni in the year-to-year operations of the school? |
| Endowment | Does the school possess any alumni supported endowment funds or programs? |
| Degree Honored | How respected is this school's degrees by other institutions? (Consider transferring to another school.) |
| Graduation Rates | What percentage of students who start actually end up graduating? |
| Outside Perception | How well perceived is the school in the eyes of outsiders, especially those for whom you might wish to work later? |
| School History | How reputable has this institution been throughout its history? |
| School Patents | How passionate is the pursuit of science? (Consider how reputable the school is scientifically and how many research breakthroughs have been patented at the school.) |
| School Ranking | In national polls, how well does this school compare to other schools of the same caliber? |
| Long-Term Career and Life Plans | How does this school fit into your long term plans and prepare you for the life that you seek? |
| Family Support | If you choose to attend this school, will your spouse, parents, and other family support you in this decision? |
| Financial Considerations | Can you afford to attend this school? (Consider tuition, housing, parking fees, and other fees.) |
| Scholarships | How well will this school support you financially? (Consider academic, sport, and other scholarships and financial aid that may be available.) |
| General Scholarships | How plenteous and accessible are general academic scholarships that reward academic excellence? |
| Departmental Scholarships | How well will the department for which you are applying be willing to support your academic ambitions? |
| Special Scholarships | How available are special scholarships for minorities, women, and special interest groups? |
| Grants | How well will the federal and state government as well as the school support you through grants? |
| Loans | How suitable are the student loan options available to you? |
| Interest Rate | How palatable is the interest rate attached to the loan? (Consider increasing interest rates and interest accrual while still in school.) |
| Deferment | How flexible are the payment deferrals offered by the lenders? (Consider how soon you will have to start repaying as well as minimum payments.) |
| Total Financial Costs | Is the total financial cost within your means? (Consider Tuition, Books, Computers, Commuting Costs, Living Expenses, Student Fees, Other Misc., etc.) |
| Campus Employment | If you need to find employment on campus, are jobs available that fit your needs? (consider pay rates, working hours, and whether you will be allowed to study while at work.) |
| Pay | How suitable is the salary with respect to your needs? (Consider how much income you will need.) |
| Do Schoolwork While Working | To what extent will you be allowed to do schoolwork while on the job? |
| Work Hours | How flexible is the scheduling for the job? (Consider your availability to work and the number of hours you need.) |
| Local Employment | Are there sufficient employment opportunities while in school? |
| Jobs | How available will local work be? |
| Reputation | Do the school’s students have a good reputation in the local area with employers? |
| Faculty and Administration | How well does the reputation of the faculty and administration suit you? (Consider outstanding faculty, administration responsiveness and availability, etc.) |
| Faculty | How does the quality of the faculty suit you? (Consider their expertise, background, experience, availability to students, etc.) |
| Faculty Diversity | Evaluate the backgrounds of the teaching faculty. How well do they represent differing opinions from multiple places around the globe? |
| Faculty Expertise | How experienced are the faculty in their teaching field? |
| Faculty Availability | How available are the professors to answer any questions or concerns, as well as to provide mentoring? |
| Outstanding Faculty | How would you rate the faculty and their teaching ability at the school? |
| Student to Teaching Faculty Ratio | Is the student to teacher ratio low enough? |
| Teaching Professors | Are you satisfied with the percentage of teaching faculty who are actually professors and not teaching assistants? |
| Administration | How easy to work with and efficient is the school staff? |
| School President | How involved in the affairs of the school and student population is the school president? |
| Dean of Students | How does the Dean of Students' accessibility and helpfulness suit your needs? |
| Academic Deans | How does the accessibility and helpfulness of the Academic Deans (or department heads) suit your needs? |
| Bursar Office | How convenient is student interaction with the Bursar Office? (Consider the overall experience of students paying bills.) |
| Support Services | How prepared is the school to deal with the needs of current and incoming students? (Consider needs such as career assistance, computer assistance, library resources, etc.) |
| Career Services | How good is job placement aid for graduating students? |
| Information Technology | How adequate are the technologies which are in place to ensure smooth computer operation for all students? |
| Assignment Submission | Are convenient methods for submitting your work readily available? |
| Support for Student Computing | How well does the school support and encourage student computing? (Consider the availability of computer repair, Wi-Fi coverage, student email support, network backups, student software supported or required by the IT department, website space, printing, available anti-virus and other student oriented security software.) |
| Online Information Access | How comprehensive is online access to grades, financial services, and your student account? |
| Library Resources | Evaluate the quantity and quality of library resources. (Consider library hours, size of the collection, any special collections, professionalism of the staff, online access, presence of a copy center, etc.) |
| Campus Considerations | How does the campus overall suit you? (Consider academic buildings, parking, geography, walk times, housing, etc) |
| Academic Buildings | How convenient and up to date are the academic facilities on campus? |
| Classroom Size | Do the classrooms comfortably accommodate the number of students enrolled? |
| Conference Rooms | If you need to prepare a conference for a group or need to do a group project, how adequate are the conference rooms available for your use? |
| Desk/Chair Quality | How comfortable are the chairs and desks in the classrooms? |
| Campus Commute | How easy is the commute to campus? (Consider commuting time and options such as Car, Train, Bus, Walk, Bicycle, Parking availability, etc.) |
| Geography | How content are you with the geography of the campus? (Consider size, location, aesthetic beauty, seasonal weather, etc.) |
| Aesthetic Beauty | How beautiful is the campus overall? |
| Campus Location | How desirable is the campus location? (Consider if it is In State, Out-of-State, Overseas, as well as Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, South, Mid-West, Northwest, West Coast, Southwest, etc.) |
| Campus Setting | How comfortable are you with the campus setting? (Consider whether the setting is Urban, Suburban, College Town, Rural, etc.) |
| Campus Size | How does the size of this campus fit your preferences? (Consider acreage, walk time, etc, geography.) |
| Local Attractions | How plentiful are local geographic attractions such as mountains, lakes, rivers, beaches, and other landmarks? |
| Seasonal Weather | Is the weather throughout the year to your liking? |
| Housing | How suitable to you are the price, size, utilities, and convenience of the housing options? |
| Curfew | How convenient is the curfew, if one is imposed, on the students? |
| Dorm | How suitable is the dorm to you? |
| Dorm Style | How suitable is the dorm floor plan to you? |
| Bathroom Style | How convenient are the bathrooms? |
| Co-ed Dorms | How suitable are the co-ed versus single sex dorm offerings? |
| Room Size | How suitable are the room sizes to your needs? |
| Study Lounges | How suitable are the designated study lounges or rooms in the dorms? |
| Off-Campus Housing Considerations | If you live off-campus, how suitable is the commute, contract, and costs? |
| Commute Time | How will necessary commuting time affect your schedule? (Consider the time it will take you to drive to campus and find parking.) |
| Contract Flexibility | How flexible are the contract restrictions and rules? |
| Grounds Maintenance | How does any required grounds maintenance affect your schedule? |
| Housing Cost | How expensive is the cost of rent off-campus? |
| Utilities Cost | How expensive are the costs of water, electricity, and other necessities to living off-campus? |
| Parking | How convenient is parking around the dorm? |
| Roommate Policy | How easy is it to change roommates if there is a problem? |
| Utilities | How convenient are the washer-dryer, phone, internet, and television hookups on campus? |
| Cleaning | How suitable are cleaning services offered, if any? |
| Internet | How convenient is it to use wired or wireless internet in the dorm? |
| Phone | How convenient will it be to use a landline phone in the dorm? |
| Television | How convenient and diverse are television access offerings in the dorm? |
| Washer/Dryer | How convenient is the distance to washer/dryer facilities? |
| Weapon Policy | How compatible is the dorm policy for guns and knives with your thoughts? |
| Security | How safe do you feel on campus? (Consider the crime rate, on campus lighting, campus escort services, etc. |
| Service Support Considerations | If you are on campus and need assistance, how well does this school rate? (Consider disability access, emergency services, public telephones, bus routes, campus parking, etc.) |
| Student Life Considerations | Is there plenty to do in your off time? (Consider the social and extra-curricular activities of this campus.) |
| Campus Dining | How would you rate the quality, availability, and affordability of campus food? |
| Food Quality and Variety | How health-conscious is the food program offered to students? Consider the food quality and variety and its healthiness.) |
| Meal Plan Flexibility | How flexible and changeable are the meal plan options offered to students? |
| Meal Plan Options | How diverse are the meal plan options offered to students? |
| Meal Plan Price | How affordable is the meal plan compared to your budget? (Consider the cost of eating with a meal plan vs. cooking for yourself or a combination of the two. |
| Number of Locations | Are there enough dining halls to serve the campus? |
| Campus Music | How does the quality and diversity of musical events and productions sponsored by the school suit you? (Consider Pep and Marching bands, Acapella groups, Orchestra, student bands, concerts, etc.) |
| Friends Attending | How comfortable are you with how many of your friends attend this school? |
| Local Shopping | How close and useful are local stores for shopping needs? (Consider also restaurants, theatres and malls and their accessibility.) |
| Political Activity | What is your opinion of the level of political activity among the students and faculty at the school? |
| Spirituality | How sensitive to spiritual things is the atmosphere on campus? |
| Campus Sensitivity | How open is the campus to spiritual ideas and beliefs? |
| Places of Worship | How plentiful are places of worship in the surrounding community? |
| Student Involvement | How active are the students in the spiritual affairs of the community and campus? |
| Sports | How active is the school in promoting its own sports teams? (Consider how enthusiastic the students are and how good the teams are.) |
| Gym Facilities | Are the gym facilities adequate for your needs? (Consider the hours open and diversity of machines and programs offered.) |
| Intramural Sports | Does the quantity and quality of intramural sports at the school, such as Football, Basketball, Baseball, Soccer, Rugby, etc., appeal to you? |
| Student Fields | Are open sports fields available for students who wish to play intramural sports or the occasional pick-up game? |
| Student Social Activities | What is the overall state of social activity on campus? (Consider guest speakers, theatre productions, formal dances, game rooms, and the party reputation (or lack thereof) of the school.) |
| Students | How comfortable are you with the number of students on campus? |
| Student Population | How comfortable are you with the size of the student population? |
| Male/Female Ratio | How does the Male/Female ratio fit you? |
| Commuter Presence | How does the commuter presence on-campus affect the atmosphere of campus life? |
| Ethnic/Cultural Diversity | How well does the ethnic and cultural diversity fit your liking? |
| International Students | How adequate is the presence of international students on campus? (Consider the diversity of Asians, Hispanics, Africans, Middle Easterners, Europeans, and so forth.) |
| International Culture Recruiting | How active is the school in trying to recruit international students? |
| International Student Awareness | How aware is the school administration of the needs of international students? |
| Student Attitude | When you visit campus, how friendly and generally warm and welcoming are the other students? Does the campus seem to be harmonious and pleasant? |
| Masters Degree Components | How does this school's graduate level program strengths and weaknesses compare to others? |
| Admission Considerations | Do your credentials meet or exceed the entrance requirements for this institution? |
| Exams | Are you comfortable with any required qualifying exams? (Consider the exam type, what percentage of students passes them, and whether multiple chances to pass are offered.) |
| GRE Score | Do your GRE scores meet or exceed the school’s entrance requirements? |
| Required Work Experience | Is the required work experience for this program a good fit? |
| Masters Degree Financial Considerations | Does the school offer any financial remuneration for attending? (Consider any stipends; help with medical insurance, room and board, etc.) |
| Funding | How comfortable are you with the school's funding arrangements, including any imposed conditions? |
| Health Care | How does the school provided health care fit your needs? (Consider what is covered, who is covered, premiums, co-payments, coverage limits, dental care, vision care, etc.) |
| Masters Degree Academics | Will your advisor and program of study be challenging enough to warrant attending this school? |
| Advisor | How does the system for choosing and changing advisors fit your needs? |
| Colleagues | How does the number of people working in your field of interest suit you? |
| Flexibility | Can you tailor the program to your specific career goals through additional certificates, programs, coursework; schedule flexibility if you need to work, etc? |
| Time | How does the time required to finish fit you? |
| Thesis | How does the thesis requirement fit you? |
This site is intended as an informational tool only and should be used in consultation with appropriate professional advisors.
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