Family touring Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J.

• There are approximately 3,000 different colleges and universities in the U.S. to choose from.
  
• Guidebooks can be a big help, but don't make them your only tool.
  
• Start narrowing the field with published college rankings.
  
• The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) offers a new ranking system, not your typical Top 10 list. It measures the school experience by asking college students such questions as, "How many times did you see a professor after class?" or, "How many papers were you assigned in your courses?"
  
• The admissions office can put you in contact with students who are studying the subjects you're interested in.
  
• What are the two most important factors for your undergrad? Class size? Location? Major? Start crossing off schools that don't hit those marks.
  
• Many college-support websites offer valuable college overviews, electronic worksheets and invaluable online questionnaires that can help narrow a search. Enter everything from desired location to extracurricular activities to come up with a list of schools.
  
• They also have basic checklists to help you make sure you have all your paperwork in order.
  
• There are probably 10 or 15 "right" colleges for each student. Realizing this can help lessen the stress of finding that one perfect fit. Remember, less than one percent of all entering freshmen attend Ivy League schools.

Indiana University Center for Postsecondary Research and Planning
1913 E. 7th St.
Bloomington, IN 47405
812-856-5824

National Survey of Student Engagement
www.iub.edu
Collects valuable data on higher education institutions, and provides a pocket guide to help students and families ask the right questions on campus visits.

Choose the Right College and Get Accepted
Albert Uh, co-editor

Harvard Schmarvard
By Jay Mathews, columnist, The Washington Post
www.washingtonpost.com

Johns Hopkins University
William Conley, Dean of Admissions
410-516-8171
www.jhu.edu