I. Size

Colleges range in size from 150 to 40,000. Generally speaking, smaller schools offer more close-knit relationships with other students. Faculty tend to be more available and take more of a personal interest in students. Larger colleges and universities offer greater diversity of course offerings and have larger facilities, such as libraries. This is especially helpful for engineering, science and computer science majors where technology and use of advanced equipment is vital.

II. Student Body

A. Exclusively Men

B. Exclusively Women

C. Co-Educational

III. Selectivity

A. Be Realistic About Your Abilities

B. Select 3 to 5 Colleges. Apply to at least one college where you feel you'll be accepted for admission. Your guidance counselor will help you.

C. Don't Be Afraid to Apply to Ivy League or other highly competitive schools. Each year seniors from BMHS are accepted to schools such as Harvard, MIT and Dartmouth. Admission to these schools are not based strictly on class rank and SAT scores. For example, Harvard will often select an above-average student over a superior student if the above-average student has an unusual talent or has overcome a difficult personal or home situation.

D. There Are Many Advantages to Living Away at College. Develop independence, broaden your horizons, meet a variety of new and different people.

IV. Cost

Expenses vary from about $3,000 per year at Middlesex Community College to over $30,000 at Brandeis University. Massachusetts state colleges are the least expensive since they receive state funding. When calculating costs include tuition, room and board, personal expenses, books, entertainment and travel.

V. Location

A. Near Home

B. Boston Area and Out-of-State

C. Urban, Rural, Suburban

VI. Types of Schools

A. Community Colleges. Community colleges such as Middlesex offer two year programs in general liberal arts courses or specific technical and business courses. They may be terminal and offer an associate degree or they may be transfer programs. Students enrolled in transfer programs who get good grades after two years may transfer into the junior year of a four year state college (ask your counselor about the Massachusetts Compact). Most community colleges do not usually require College Board Test Scores.

B. Junior College. Junior colleges tend to be similar to community colleges but have more attractive facilities and - extracurricular activities. They also have dormitories and are more expensive than community colleges since they don't receive state funding.

C. Liberal Arts College. Liberal arts colleges give students a broad cultural foundation in the arts and sciences. They offer four year programs leading to a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science degree. The majority of colleges are classified as liberal arts.

D. Universities. A university includes an undergraduate college or colleges, professional schools and graduate schools. Universities have separate schools within the university. For example, B.U. has five separate undergraduate colleges.

E. Cooperative College or University. This type of school offers a five year work-study program. Students attend classes for a semester then alternately are placed in jobs and training programs in line with their course majors. Northeastern University and University of Massachusetts, Lowell are two of the largest schools which offer cooperative education.

F. Technological Universities. Schools such as MIT and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute offer intensive engineering and Scientific training among other alternatives.

G. Technical Institutes. Schools such as Franklin Institute and TAD Tech. offer terminal technical training in science, electronics and computers. They offer associate degrees and/or certificates.

H. Schools of Nursing - Three alternatives

1. Four year college degree-granting programs. Students spend their senior year affiliated with a hospital setting.

2. Teaching Hospitals. A three year diploma program where students take courses at a hospital school of nursing and work directly with patients. Course work is often transferable to a degree program.

3. Two year junior and community college programs. Admission to these programs is competitive since course content is similar to material covered in three year programs.

VII. College Affiliation

A. Non-sectarian, with no special affiliation, controlled by a Board of Trustees

B. Church-related schools which often affects curriculum and regulations

VIII. Public or Private

A. Publicly Controlled State Colleges and Universities. Publicly controlled state colleges and universities receive financial support from the state government and, as a result are less expensive than private colleges. Out-of-state students pay higher tuition than in-state residents. In the near future all Massachusetts state colleges will have more strict entrance requirements. They are listed in the state college catalogues.

B. Some Publicly Supported Colleges. Some publicly supported colleges must give preference to students from their own state.

C. Smaller Private Colleges. Admission to some smaller less well-known private colleges is sometimes less difficult.