I hate these questions and the lists they generate (US News and World Report, etc). I am a HS Guidance Counselor, and I can honestly say that every college out there has good points and bad, and that not every college is works for every student. It all depends on what you want to study and your personality. Pick your college based on your needs, as well as your strengths and weaknesses. Do you need the accountability and family atmosphere of a small school? Or do you need the endless choices and options of a large university to thrive? Are you sure of what you want to study? (REALLY sure?) Or do you need a school that’s strong overall so you have more options? Don’t worry about getting into a “name” school. If you take it seriously, you can get a good education just about anywhere.

Newsweek has just published its college and university ratings. Your local paper may have repeated some of the information today. If you can get ahold of the Newsweek magazine you will see that “top 10” is a relative term and must be reviewed in context. Do you want “top 10” liberal arts schools. Should the school have a masters program? Do you want to be an engineer. Do you want to party? The answers to each of these questions will produce a different list. I suggest that you decide what are the important factors to you and using something like the Newsweek lists, make a list of your own where you have selected the schools that meet your criteria.

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Harvard