Five criteria for finding your perfect college

1.Safety, match, and reach schools. Consider colleges where your academic profile – GPA and test scores – matches that of the student body. You also should have at least one safety school on your list; these are colleges where your academic profile is above the average student. Finally, look at reach schools, those where the academic profile of the average student is above yours. Developing a well-balanced list will ensure that you’re admitted to the right colleges – and give you a choice in deciding where to ultimately attend.

保底，适合和冲刺学校。结合自己的学术情况，GPA和语言成绩，要符合申请学校对于学生的录取要求。在申请学校名单中，你最起码要申请一个保底学校。所谓的保底学校，是你的学习能力要高于这个学校里面所录取学生的平均水平。最后，查找一些冲刺学校，学校录取的学生水平要高于你的水平。选择一些和你真实水平想匹配的学校，这样能够确保你录取到适合自己的学校——给自己最后选择去哪个大学的机会。

2.Academics. Does the college have the academic programs you want to study? Some colleges have architecture and engineering, while others do not. What if you change your mind and decide to study something entirely different? Will the college offer enough options for you? You should also keep in mind the quality of the academic experience – look at the average class size, the student to faculty ratio, the average retention and graduation rates, and the percent of students who continue on to graduate school, or receive jobs, upon graduation.

专业选择。那个学校是否有你想学的方向? 一些学校有农业专业和工程专业，别的学校可能会没有。那你是否会改变想法然后去上另外一个完全不同的专业?学校是否给你足够多的选择? 你应该时刻铭记要关注学术环境-查找学校的班级规模，师生比例，平均保有率，学生就业率。

3.Location. Do you want to be within driving distance of home? Or are you okay taking a flight every time you come home for breaks and holidays? Is public transportation available, or will you have a car on campus? You should also consider your future classmates. If you’re looking at a public university in another state, are most of those students going to be from that state? And will they all head home on the weekends?

地理位置。你是否希望自己开车就能回家?不介意每次放假坐飞机才能到家?公共交通是否便利? 你在校园内会开车?而且你应该考虑自己将来的同学。 如果你选择一所别的州的公立学校，大部分学生是否都来自那个州? 那他们在周六日会不会都会回家?

4.Setting. Do you like the noise and excitement of a big city? Or the quiet of the countryside? Perhaps you’re more interested in a mix – a suburban campus only a few miles outside the city. Visit colleges so that you can determine which setting you like best. Perhaps it’s a rural campus but in a college town, which has thousands of students and feels like a small city with lots to do. You’ll be living there for four years, so you’ll want to feel comfortable in your surroundings.

周边环境。你喜欢大城市的喧哗和刺激吗? 还是喜欢农村的安静? 或许你对距离城市几英里的城郊校园感兴趣。 多去参观一些学校你会知道自己到底喜欢哪种校园环境。 很可能是一个乡村校园但是处在大学城里面，那里有成千上万的学生形如一个小城市，学生可以参与好多事情。你将会在一个地方生活四年，所以周边环境让你感觉到舒适才可以。

5.Cost. Is the cost of college a concern for you? It is for most families! Consider colleges that offer merit-based scholarships as well as need-based aid. You’ll also want to look at the cost of college after financial aid is awarded, since the sticker price might not be what you pay after grants, loans and work study aid are provided. Be sure to look at public universities in your state and other states. Finally, keep in mind your total debt burden after four years.

费用。学校费用是否是你比较关心的一方面呢? 大部分家庭都会关注这点! 要考虑学校是否提供奖学金和助学金。你依然需要查清楚助学金之外的花销是多少，因为一些基础费用是在拨款，贷款和勤工助学补助发放之前就需要缴纳。一定查看自己所在州和其他州的公立大学。最后，要考虑到四年大学之后你总共的债务负担是多大。

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