First you have to decide what you want to study. You don't need to select a major immediately; you just need a general idea. Here are a few factors to weigh.



1. First, think about what it is you do well. Are you inclined toward art, literature, science, history, math, or something else? You don't have to choose one right away; rather, just figure out the two ends of the spectrum of what it is you generally are interested in and conversely what you definitely don't want to study.

2. Second, factor in how you like to learn. Every school and its instructors teach in a different way. Some schools have huge lecture halls. Others offer small seminars and writing assignments. Additionally, each subject is taught a little differently. Sciences, for example, require a lot of memorizing and tests. Try to imagine yourself in a classroom learning the way you like to learn. Which subject, then, will meet that need?

Once you have pondered these things, you can begin to look for a school that teaches your specific subjects of interest and in the style you prefer to learn. Then you can move on to actually selecting the school you wish to attend.

Below is another set of considerations to help you choose among schools.

1. Where do you want to attend school? Do you need to live near your home, or do you prefer to travel to a different location and start a new life? Some schools are way out in the country while others are right in the middle of cities. Some colleges dominate the towns in which they reside, while others are just a tiny part of the surroundings. Do you prefer to live near the beach or in the mountains?

2. Do you want to be part of a school with a large student population, or rather a smaller core? This decision is more about how you prefer your social encounters and crowd size. Sizable schools hold big events, lots of students, and huge parties. Small schools are more intimate and low-key.

3. Do you want a specialized school or a general studies school? Many schools are geared toward specific subjects or even certain belief systems or ethnic heritages. These schools can be a great environment for people who want to be around people like themselves. Other schools offer a huge amount of diversity, so you meet all kinds of new people.

4. The other major consideration is your budget. Some schools are much more expensive than others. In general, public or state-owned schools are cheaper than private schools (tax payers foot a lot of the bill), but not always. Private schools may be able to provide you greater scholarships, making it more affordable to go there. Almost any school can be very inexpensive or even free to you if you apply for the right scholarships; so don't rule anything out until you've seen what they can offer incoming students.