As you're deciding which colleges to apply to and considering which college you want to

be a student at, it is important to consider these three factors before making your
decision. The social prestige of a college, the graduate school placement of a college
and how employers view the college should all impact where you decide to study. With
the economy the way it is now, it is imperative that you do your research in order to
find out which college will present you with the best opportunities after graduation. Not
all colleges will give you equal opportunities, so be sure you know what you hope to get
out of your degree and what you're hoping to achieve afterwards.

1. How Do Other People View the College?

How other people view the college you may want to attend, or more simply put, the
social prestige of a college, may affect your post-graduation opportunities. While Ivy
League colleges clearly have a very high social prestige, students should not disregard
other colleges with the assumption that their social prestige is unsatisfactory just
because they are not of Ivy League status. Social prestige goes beyond just the name
of the college. Small class sizes, low acceptance rates, highly accredited faculty and
fantastic teaching resources are all factors that give colleges a caliber of prestige.
Interestingly, those who attend an Ivy League school and those who attend a local
college tend to earn the same income after twenty years. Don't pick a school based
solely on a name, but consider other factors that influence social prestige.

2. What is the Rate of Graduate Student

Placement?
Another factor to consider when choosing a college is the graduate school placement
prestige. Generally, colleges that have a high rate of graduate student placement tend
to be ranked and perceived more highly. Do not simply consider undergraduate
statistics, as many rankings are also based on the number of graduate and doctoral
students the college accepts. What makes a college prestigious in this sense is the
number of students accepted, the type of research they're doing and the personalized
evaluations that they offer. Whether graduate school is in your future or not, consider
this factor as it will attract the attention of other schools and future employers. Also
keep in mind that it is important to choose a school that specializes in your area of
interest. While one college may be highly accredited for engineering, it may not be for
history.

3. Which College Degrees Do Employers

Want?
In addition to social prestige and graduate school placement prestige, when picking a
college to attend students should also consider employer prestige. That is, which
colleges produce students that get a job right after they graduate and earn the highest
paychecks? In a recent study, Manhattan College and Colorado School of Mines both
featured in the top 25 colleges in the USA because of their high rate of employment
after graduation. While social prestige plays a part, the resources a college offers
students for networking opportunities and to form alumni connections is also hugely
beneficial. If you are looking to get a career after college, it is a fantastic idea to
consider employer prestige when picking a college. Considering the economic
uncertainty facing new graduates today, it is very important to plan your post-graduate
direction and know what you're hoping to get out of your undergraduate experience.
Know that having an undergraduate degree from any college is no longer enough to
guarantee your dream job. Know what you want to focus on and choose to take a
unique path. Do your research to see where the colleges you're interested in are ranked
in terms of social, graduate school placement and employer prestige and then work
hard to get there!