Rankings are important. They give a school, as well as a student, a sense of where the institution stands amongst its peers. While this is important to your college choice, a student should not choose a school based solely on the highest ranking. Here are

Brett Forde is a Marketing Associate at Plexuss.com. He graduated from Marquette University with a BA in Advertising in 2012.

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New sets of <a href="https://plexuss.com/ranking" target="_blank">rankings</a> are rolling out for 2016, and those will affect the decisions of high school students choosing where to matriculate worldwide. Rankings are important. They give a school, as well as a student, a sense of where the institution stands amongst its peers. Most will factor in a variation of classroom rigor, alumni success, endowment, job placement, etc. While these are all very important to your college choice, a student should not choose a school based solely on the highest ranking. Here are some other factors to include in your college selection process:
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			1. What is the best school for me?
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		Don’t just pick the “best school,” pick the best school for you. Before you make your college choice, visit schools, check out their tuition, their programs, their clubs and sports. Just because a school has a higher rank than another school you were accepted to, does not mean you should automatically pick it.
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			2. What school can you afford?
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		When choosing a college, it will often happen that the higher ranked schools are more expensive. What public and private schools do you want to attend? Look for financial aid, scholarships, FAFSA, etc. There are also ways to attend some colleges for free! A big thing to remember with financial aid is this: apply to EVERYTHING you are eligible for.
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			3. What campus setting do you want?
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		Some schools will be located out in the country, where campus community makes up the entire city. Other schools are so centrally located downtown it’s hard to know when you’re on campus. Which experience are you looking for? Or do you want the best of both worlds? Or do you want to take classes online? Visit some schools to see what campus vibes you like the most.
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			4. What size school do you want?
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		Most likely, your college will be bigger than your high school. How much bigger, however, is up to you. The highest student population in the country is in Tempe, with <a href="https://plexuss.com/college/arizona-state-university-tempe" target="_blank">Arizona State</a>, at 60,000 students. That is bigger than loads of cities! For some, that is overwhelming when deciding how to choose a college. For others, that is exactly what they are looking for in their college choice. Take into account the size of a campus you would feel comfortable in before choosing!
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			5. What location are you looking for?
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		This is very important to some people when deciding how to choose a college. Look on a map and see how far from your family you are comfortable moving. This will be your home for the next 4+ years, so make sure you can afford to fly back and forth a few times a year, are comfortable with the weather, and have a good webcam so you can still see your dog.
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			6. Are you looking for an affiliation?
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		There are higher education institutions affiliated with religions, ethnicity, and trades. Are you looking for something specific? If so, you can filter your search down into exactly which affiliation you are seeking, regardless of their rank.
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			7. What activities are you looking for?
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		We’ve already mentioned the fact that being a part of a <a href="https://plexuss.com/news/article/best-college-football-student-sections" target="_blank">great student section</a> can make you fall in love with a school, but what else are you looking to get involved with? Check out the clubs, activities, and groups you can get involved with. Club sports, greek life, and an ability to pursue your outside interests should factor into your decision. Maybe you even want to join an <a href="https://plexuss.com/news/article/best-college-a-capella-groups" target="_blank">a capella group</a>!
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			8. What do you want to study?
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		Rankings will take into account the entire university, not just a specific major or program. Follow your specific program, and see which is the best fit for you! If you want to be an engineer, you don’t need to go to a school with a great journalism program. This also can factor into your location decision. Check out the nearby cities, that is likely where you will live and work, so you’ll want to know which jobs are available there!
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			You will make the right choice!
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		No matter what, the school you pick is the school you wanted at the time. There are thousands of factors that will determine how to pick a college, but go with your gut. Regardless of all of those specifics, you will live in a dorm, you will eat in a cafeteria, you will earn a degree, and you will make great friends. There are no rankings to quantify that. So, in the end, be confident in your choice and you will end up having a great experience!
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<br /><div><p>Vote in our poll to let us know what your most important factors are!</p></div>
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