Find out how accessible and available they are. Find out where its graduates are, and what they're doing, five and ten years down the road. It's not just the first job, but the career and life path that defines success. Given the cost of education, financial aid is important, and when choosing a college, the relative cost of competing offers should not be overlooked. But don't be guided by cost alone.
College is a major long-term life investment, and a degree is an appreciating asset.
Like a birthday or a middle name, your son's or daughter's alma mater, with its network of alumni connections, will always be there and can play a significant part in his or her life. There are many factors to weigh in this complex and important decision, and this is only a start. Don't confuse the difficulty of getting into a school with the quality of the educational experience. And, remember, no matter how well-prepared you are, choosing a college is as much about feelings as facts.