ssions board. Will all your hard work pay off or will you be stuck at your "safety school"? I remember applying for schools. It's such a stressful time! And what did I know about deciding my major and my entire future at the age of 18? That is kind of young to know what you may want to do with your life. My limited life experience as head cheerleader and SCA Secretary could never prepare me to make a decision like that.
So I did my research ... lots of research. I learned about the different universities out there and what they had to offer. But how was I supposed to know if it was going to be a good fit for me? Did I want a big school or a small school? Did I want to go in-state or out-of-state? And don't even get me started on what programs different schools offered. That was an entirely different story.
As an official adult now, I am happy to say that my research paid off and I definitely made the right decision (go Hokies!). But I wanted to see what colleges and universities people were looking into these days. No, not the most prestigious or most expensive universities ... just the ones that people are showing interest in. It has always been a really interesting topic to me.
We see searches for campuses that span the country from University of Michigan to University of Arizona. It seems like a lot of the top searched universities have strong football programs with Boston College, Virginia Tech and Ohio State all making the list. I guess that makes sense with the BCS games coming up.
Did your alma mater make the list? What do you think of our top schools? If you are doing campus research try searching for universities on AOL Search. Or check out what universities are in your state on AOL Yellow Pages.
Top Searched Colleges and Universities on AOL Search:
1. University of Michigan
2. Boston College
3. University of Florida
4. Indiana University
5. University of Delaware
6. University of Maryland
7. Ohio State University
8. Virginia Tech
9. University of Virginia
10. University of Arizona
More Sponsored Links For: universities, college finder, free scholarships
posted by Allie
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299
comments
COMMENTS
The story about choosing a college is good. Using the most searched as a method of measuring quality of college is silly. It is just the colleges most people have heard about. Doing a survey of what students thought about the colleges they attended or surveying faculty over what they think the quality of their education versus others colleges might be good or surveying HR people would giv you information about hirability. But just searched doesn't mean much. jeff
By Jeff on Dec 6th 2007 at 9:44AM
sorry to read the article by the mother whose daughter left CAl, Berekeley after two years of cultural shock. I am curious how one withstood shock for two years? Was she being held captive by her professors??
I loved Cal..the only shock was the amount of studying I had to do, but there was awe too!!!....I learned so much not only academically, but about people and diversity.
I'll have to note, that the Univ. of Michigan has a great rehabilitation program (nah, just teasing..glad your daughter was happy there..we all have to find our niche!)
By madspopi on Dec 6th 2007 at 9:44AM
"I guess that makes sense with the BCS games coming up."
Not really. Many high school kids want to go to a big college football program school all year long, not just when the bowl games are "coming up."
By GeoffHarm1 on Dec 6th 2007 at 9:55AM
I think Audacte has good advise. Go to a community college, get an associate's degree, work & decide on your career & go to the best school you can.
BTW, I am a retired teacher with a masters. The masters cost me more then I ever received in my paycheck. I wanted the masters anyway for myself.
By mulberry204 on Dec 6th 2007 at 10:02AM
I knew I wanted to go to Florida State University since the seventh grade. I applied there, got in, and fit perfectly. I made the right choice, and I'm thriving here right now as a Sophomore!!!
By gurl0114 on Dec 6th 2007 at 10:06AM
Its a complete myth that you HAVE to go to an elite LAC or Ivy League School to be "successful". A lot of internet websites promote elitism and scoff at any school that is lower than the top30 in the annual USNWR rankings, itself a HIGHLY controversial ranking system published every year. Parents stress out over it, "OMG, if my cute little suzie doesnt get into Stanford or Dartmouth, what am I going to do? What am I going to tell my friends and neighbors?" Its ludicrous.
The truth is that there are near 3,000 colleges in the United States. Most of these colleges have kids with near perfect SAT scores, so its obvious that really bright kids go to many different schools. There is a plethora of colleges just waiting for your application. People should spend more time on the "fit" aspect, and visit the school. We learned MORE from visiting schools last year for my daughter than we learned from avg SAT scores and gpa's. At some prestigious schools we saw a lot of stressed out kids, complaining of cutthroat competition, frenetic study habits etc. NOT! We opted for a "match" school and it is a perfect fit. Its in the top100 but not in the top30 of national universities of USNWR. In the end, having your kid be happy and thriving socially and academically is worth more than the so called "prestige" of elite schools.
Good luck, everyone!
By PGV007 on Dec 6th 2007 at 10:08AM
my sister went to OSU-undergrad and grad, but i chose a smaller,local, private college. granted my tuition is a lot more than my sister paid it all evens out because i live at home and don't have to pay room and board. i would also like to comment on the community college choice before a 4yr college or university. this is a very good idea for some people i would just like to warn those to make sure all of your credits will transfer to the college or university you want to attend after the 2 years. my brother-in-law transfered from Sinclair to OSU after two years and only half of his credits transfered so he had to retake classes at OSU. I have also had many friends transfer from a community college to the private school i attend and they had a hard time transfering credits as well.
By Carissa on Dec 6th 2007 at 10:13AM
College....expensive....HOWEVER...I have always felt that, regarding the cost, the purpose of college is to confirm what one does NOT want to pursue in life. In addition, a large university can sometimes be TOO BIG for a student, one gets lost,becomes lonely, can get depressed, avoids attending classes, can't cope with facing challenges...etc. especially if they came from a small school and/or community. I also believe that an outside agency needs to be established to control the soaring prices of colleges. It is getting out of hand.
By Jan on Dec 6th 2007 at 10:11AM
I hope that these colleges aren't on the top list just because either they're the most searched or the top football colleges. College is about education too, you know. I myself am a student in high school who is looking for a college that offers a decent education program, and also a good band program where I can enhance my musicianship. Put schools on there that offer great courses. You may have been head cheerleader, but not all of us are athletic.
By xxvenom1992xx on Dec 6th 2007 at 10:13AM
Too much pressure is placed on students (and parents) to find the "right" college. We told our kids there are probably 20-25 colleges where they would excel. Our responsibility was to keep them away from those that would not be a productive experience for them. It worked!
By Robert Shirley on Dec 6th 2007 at 10:15AM
Do not court out state schools my Daughter is a juinor At Northern Illinois University in DeKalb,IL and loves it. The best part of this school is that when you start as a freahman your tution cost stay the same, the only things that will change is room and board if you change dorms.
She has learned a lot in her major and has some leads on jobs when she gets out.
By Wayzasa on Dec 6th 2007 at 10:14AM
College is OverRated. Don't go if college is not needed for you career - go to work and make money.
By Don on Dec 6th 2007 at 10:27AM
Choosing what you want to do is very hard at 18 and very few know what they want to do or where they want to go to school. Parents should SERIOUSLY let their sons or daughters do the choosing because it is them that have to take the classes and possibly live there for the next 4-5 years. I got pushed into choosing a school that I hated because it was what my family "approved of" when they knew that I hated that school. After two years I sent an application to transfer to the school that I wanted in the beginning because I got sick and tired of my old school. I really don't care of anybody hates my choice or not because I am HAPPY at my current school. Parents can't always make the decisions when we reach adulthood. There seriously IS a cut-off point on somethings after their kids reach a certain age. We can't learn anything if we aren't allowed to make out own choices or experience life for ourselves. Loving us and protecting is one thing, but keeping us from what we want out of life is another and making us miserable is another. I am not going to school to make family proud of me, I going to school so that I can have the future that I want. Parents, we love you. We really do, but most of us hate it when our lives are planned out and us not allowed a say in it.
By Nikki on Dec 6th 2007 at 10:30AM
CHOOSING A COLLEGE MAY NOT BE QUITE AS IMPORTANT AS WHAT ONE DOES WITH THE DEGREE IN FUTURE LIFE: WHAT YOU MAKE OUT OF YOURSELF AFTER COLLEGE! MY ALMA MATER, CITY COLLEGE OF NEW YORK, IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST UNHERALDED UNIVERSITIES IN THE COUNTRY, YET IT HAS PRODUCED SOME OF THE FINEST ENGINEERS, PHYSICIANS, SCIENTISTS, ETC. ED KOCH, COLIN POWELL,JONAS SALK ARE EXAMPLES. AND IT WAS FREE IN THOSE DAYS! MY ADVISE: PICK A SCHOOL WITH A GOOD ACCREDITATION RECORD, FORGET MOST OF YOUR PARTYING, AND USE YOUR DIPLOMA TO MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF YOUSELVES (IF YOU REALLY WANT TO!)!
By DAVID L. WEST on Dec 6th 2007 at 10:34AM
The number one thing to check is the back ground of the professors and administrators. We need politics out of the colleges and fairness returned. Many Community colleges are the way to go these days and most offer degrees in many areas.
By Pat on Dec 6th 2007 at 10:36AM
What imbeciles compiled this list? Poor ones with rotten grades, it looks like. Michigan is a great school, but no Stanford? No Northwestern? No Yale? No Chicago?
By Ralph Novak on Dec 6th 2007 at 10:51AM
Seems that kids from California know where to go as they rarely leave California if not for some of the Ivys or very good full-ride scolarship.Of course excluding sport-scholarship as those kids mostly would not even go for university if not for sport and free-ride they get.Criteria for them are low regarding "normal" students even for very good universities. UC - University of California a very good organized system has about 12 colleges and some of them are pretty hard to get into like Berkeley.
But at the end you have to work hard in high school to be able to get into good ones as State colleges are never as good.Junior colleges are waste of time for good students and if you are not good you will not get better there so your chances for any 4-year college except state are weak.junior colleges are sometimes under some High school level.But then it is up to kids: their abilities, their choices and their life.
By tom on Dec 6th 2007 at 10:41AM
UVA is an "okay" school, certainly not for football. One really good season does "not" make you a football school. I digress. Unfortunately UVA seems to draw immature, arrogant, poorly raised, geeks. The way they consistently trash VA Tech (even here #15) makes everyone in town laugh (yes, I live here). VA Tech represents this great state as much (or more) than UVA (no, I didn't go to VA Tech). UVA needs to teach a course in tollerance, unity, and manners. It sounds so ridiculous to listen to these students (kids) year after year trash Tech. They sound like 4 year olds... You're supposed to be happy people, like your school song -- "UVA, Where All is Bright and Gay".
By Eve on Dec 6th 2007 at 10:46AM
Before you slap down $40,000 to go to college, make sure you really need to go to college. You can't imagine how many people I have met in my lifetime that went to college and wasted 4 years of their life. Many of them became very successful in areas they didn't study in. Some went to very fine schools and are doing very little in the way of utilizing their education. Don't go to college because all your friends are, and don't go because your parents did. Go if it's right for you.
By d diaferia on Dec 6th 2007 at 10:47AM
HEY ALLIE---EVER HEARD OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. SOME AWFULLY GOOD SCHOOLS LOCATED THERE LIKE GONZAGA UNIVERSITY, U OF W, REED COLLEGE TO NAME A FEW.
BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS GIRL
By jdwinsurance on Dec 6th 2007 at 11:04AM