It’s an age-old question whose importance seems only to grow as teens increasingly look toward higher education. There are the obvious choices like Harvard, Columbia, Stanford and Yale. All such universities sound great and look even better on a resume, but will they cater to your interests? More often than not, the best school for a student has more to do with fit than it does with name recognition.

When you factor in the energy it takes to narrow your list of potential colleges— and how much four (or more) years at an institution might cost— you want to make sure that by the end of the admission’s process you’ve found a college where you’ll thrive both academically and socially.

Out of the about 3,000 colleges in the nation, how do you zero in on the perfect school? Simply put, you don’t. The notion of a single, ideal college is pretty much unrealistic. However, there may be several schools that will make a great match for you. The key is taking time to determine what criteria matter most and focusing on where you will fit in, rather than where you may get in.

Applying to a college you would never want to attend is pointless. Regardless of how esteemed the college may be, it simply isn’t worth it if you’re not interested in the school’s offerings. Plus, applying to an “easy” but ultimately pointless school for you takes valuable time and effort out of applications to schools that might be a much better fit.

Keep in mind that more than 2 million students apply to colleges each year— with many of them getting into their top choice schools. In fact, 70 percent of respondents to the Cooperative Institutional Research Program’s Freshmen Survey gained admission to their first choice schools, and an additional 22 percent got into their second choice schools. These are more than just promising odds; they illustrate the idea of “fit.” If a student targets a school serving his or her interests, it’s likely that the school will be equally keen to serve the student well.

You probably have an idea of what you are looking for in a college. For example, is there a school size and location you consider ideal? Do you want a small liberal arts college experience, or would you rather attend a university with 20,000 potential peers? Do you want to be 30 minutes or 3,000 miles from home? Are you looking for a big library in a big city? Columbia University, located in Manhattan, lays claim to 7.4 million volumes. How about a big stadium and great weather year-round? University of Florida’s Ben Hills Griffin Stadium can pack more than 90,000 impassioned football fans. What about computer access, whether minorities are well-represented on campus, or the popularity of fraternities and sororities? The list of questions could go on and on— and it should. The broadest list of questions possible yields an extremely specialized view on what you’re looking for in a college experience.

Tally your answers. Then start exploring the most personally appealing college campuses to see what school best fulfills your vision.

For some students, the antiquity— or lack thereof— of a school can influence a decision. Does the school in question date back to English rule of the colonies, such as Harvard University, established in 1636, or is it an up-and-coming institution, like Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering, which received its accreditation in 2006?
Other students might want to know about unique class offerings. You would be amazed by what some schools teach. From classes on Star Trek and religion (Indiana University-Bloomington) to witchcraft and politics (Bucknell University) to everything about Bob Dylan (Brown University), there are hundreds of compelling— and in some cases, downright bizarre— courses that veer from conventional subject fare.

Another consideration is seeing if a school belongs to a consortium. A consortium is a partnership among various colleges in the same region that promotes the sharing of services, facilities and educational and cultural resources. This partnership makes a broader range of opportunities available to students. For example, Five Colleges, Inc., which Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College and the University of Massachusetts-Amherst all belong to, allows a student at any of these colleges to register for classes at an affiliated campus. Consortiums are a great way to enhance your college experience by expanding your academic horizons through several colleges— at the price tag of just one!

What about location? Forgive the cliché, but it’s all about location when it comes to academic opportunities for students outside the classroom. Enriching possibilities may include internships, research initiatives and study abroad programs. In Northeastern University’s curriculum exists co-ops granting students access to career-strengthening paid work experiences. Goucher College gives all students a minimum of $1,200 to help them with study abroad travel expenses. Many similar programs exist; all it takes is a little research to discover them.

Another consideration when it comes to location is the kind of job market that graduates are expected to find if they choose to settle down where they studied. While a student who graduates from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio may find a veritable treasure chest of career options, another student with a fresh diploma from Drexel University in Philadelphia might find the offerings decidedly slim.

Finally, a happy social life can be a student’s best friend when at college. And it’s important for you to get some downtime between study sessions, athletics, extracurricular activities and interest groups, though all represent great ways to exorcise stress and make friends. Whether you’re looking for secret societies, such as the “Sphinx Head Society” at Cornell University, time-honored traditions, like the puddle jump at Bates College, or a little old-fashioned rodeo fun, as at California Polytechnic State-San Luis Obispo and nearly 40 other colleges that offer such a program, you’ll find the college that best represents your interests, preferences and values when you factor in the social opportunities at college.

The most crucial thing to remember is that college presents an opportunity for you to experience unparalleled academic and personal freedom. The best scenario is that you find a school that both fosters existing passions and encourages the discovery of new ones, while at the same time offering a community of peers to accept and challenge you. Through a thorough and well-considered approach, you can work with your parents and perhaps a college advisor to discover your best fit college— and in turn tread the best path to a successful future. Good luck and happy hunting!

Adam Davis is an editor for The Princeton Review, the fastest growing education company in the country. Princeton Review’s recent book, COLLEGE NAVIGATOR: Find the School to Match Any Interest from Archery to Zoology, has almost 300 college lists identifying schools for just about any criteria a college applicant or parent might find important. Learn more about this title and others at www.princetonreview.com.