Attending a four-year college has been a tremendous milestone in my life that my parents and I have been looking forward to ever since I can remember, as we saw it as the first step into my specific career path. I had always wanted to contribute to the field of science, and choosing a branch to which I would dedicate years of higher education was daunting. Reflecting on this, my top 3 criteria for selecting a college are location, academic fit, and cultural match. Each of these criteria is increasingly fine and objective, and I apply them like a fishnet, a sieve, and a cheesecloth.

First and foremost, the broadest of the criteria is location, specifically proximity to my home. Since I live in the densely populated state of California, I can cast out a “net” within just the state, keeping tuition and distance from home, family, and friends manageable. Also, I prefer a campus within northern California as it is easier to find internships and other career opportunities for local companies close to home during and immediately after school.

Next, I consider the “academic fit” of the college. In other words, how closely do my grades align with that of accepted applicants, how manageable are the transfer courses, and how high quality are that specific school’s classes, clubs, and student services? Being a primarily objective category, this will narrow my choices like a fine sieve, leaving a workable list of colleges to pick from.

Lastly, my most subjective criterion is the cultural match between me, the school, and the student body. This all boils down to one question: how much do I see myself as a student in this school? While this is a vague question, I best answer it by imagining how I would feel attending the school when I was 10.
Considering my interest in physics, astronomy, and technology, I would have to attend a school known for that. Considering my love for interacting with people of similar interests, that school would have to have a vibrant club scene, specifically physics and engineering-related clubs. I want to match the average student in terms of hobbies, interests, and goals in life. I would also like to attend large classes with opportunities to meet various new people and seasoned instructors.

I also value diversity, both in the campus’s offerings of social life and in the student body, which leads me to prefer public schools over private ones.
In conclusion, my top three criteria for selecting a college are proximity to home, academic fit, and the appeal of the school’s culture.