The following is a list of factors to consider as you search for a college. Some things will be important to you. Others won't. But this list should give you a better idea of how to begin thinking through what you want in a school.
Distance. How far are you willing to travel? Do you want to stay as close to home as possible, or are you willing to go far away? (If you go a really long way, consider that you may not get to see your family except in vacations.) Or do you want something in between?
Location. Do you like big cities, or do you prefer a rural1 environment? Or something in between, like a suburban setting2? What about a drastic3 change in climate? If you've lived in the south all your life and are considering a college in the north, you're gonna need something warmer than a sweatshirt4 with your high school logo5 on it.
Size. Some colleges have over ten thousands of students. Some only have a few hundred. Would you like knowing most of your classmates, or would you rather blend into6 a larger campus? Where would you best fit in7?
Admissions8 requirements. Colleges vary greatly in their standards for admission. Some schools are quite difficult to get into, others are much easier, and there are many in between the two extremes. If you're not sure whether you should consider a school because of its academic9 requirements, consult your guidance counselor10.
Major11. If you don't know what you want to study in college, don't worry. You're hardly alone. Lots of students end up changing their majors anyway. You usually don't know how to decide on one until your sophomore12 year. So just pick a school that offers a wide variety of major programs.
Cost. Cost will eventually be a factor, but don't let it bog you down13 right now. When you're still very early in the decision-making process, it's not a huge concern. Yes, college can be expensive. But keep in mind that you'll rarely pay the full sticker price14.
Financial aid from the government, private sources15, and the colleges themselves is available16 to cut the costs if you are qualified for it. When it comes time to apply to your top colleges, you'll have chance to get financial aid packages17 that will give you a better feel for what you can—and can't—afford. And the last, you can apply for loan without interest and pay it back after graduation. Till then, don't sweat18 it too much.
以下列举了挑选大学时宜考虑的种种因素。有些对你很关键，另一些则不见得。但这张清单应该能让你更明确：你该如何挑选一所心仪的大学？你希望从中有何收获？
距离：你想走多远？是想尽可能离家近还是愿意远离家人？（如果真想远走高飞，就要考虑到除了假期，可能难得与家人谋面。）或者你来个折中？
地理位置：你是喜欢大城市还是青睐乡风浓郁的环境？亦或是介于两者之间的郊区？你能适应天气的剧变吗？如果你一直生活在南方，却想考虑一所北方的大学，你需要一些更保暖的衣物而不仅仅是一件印有中学标志的棉毛衫了。
学校规模：有的大学学生过万，有的则只有区区几百人。你愿意结识众多的同学还是想融于更大的校园？哪里更让你如鱼得水？
录取要求：各大学在录取标准上彼此差异很大。有些大学门槛难进，有些则容易得多，另有许多大学标准介于二者之间。如果因为某所大学对学业成绩有所要求，你没把握是否应该将其作为考虑对象，咨询你的辅导老师。
专业挑选：若你茫然不知在大学里想学什么，别担心。你不是惟一有此顾虑的人。许多学生最终都换了专业。通常到二年级你才懂得如何判断哪门专业适合你。所以挑选一所专业设置范围广的学校不失为明智之举。
费用问题：费用也是最终要考虑的一个因素，但目前不要被它捆住手脚。当你处于决策过程的初期，费用问题关系不大。的确，上大学可能费用不菲，但记住按标价交纳全部费用的情况很少。
如果你有资格获得来自政府、私人机构和大学本身的经济资助，可以减免一部分费用。如果你有机会申请一流大学，你有可能得到经济资助套餐。这样你会更清楚什么费用你付得起、什么费用付不起。退一万步，你还可以申请无息贷款毕业后偿还。在此之前，就不必多虑了。
1. rural adj． 乡村的
2． suburban adj． 郊区的 setting [?謖seti?耷] n． 环境
3． drastic ． 急剧的，剧烈的
4． sweatshirt n． 棉毛衫
5． logo n． 标识语，标记
6． blend [blend] into 混合，融于……
7． fit in 适合
8． admission n． 录取，准入
9． academic adj． 学院的，理论的
10． guidance counselor 指导老师，顾问
11． major n． 专业
12． sophomore adj． 大学二年级的
13． bog down （使）陷于困境，使停顿
14． sticker price 标签价格，标价
15． private sources 来自私人机构的经济资助
16． available adj． 可以得到的
17． financial aid package 各种经济资助的组合，助学金套餐
18． sweat [swet] v． 焦虑，烦恼