It's a real challenge to choose from thousands of universities the ones that suit you. There is no general recipe for success, so when you make your choices you need to clarify your objectives and consider the factors that are important to YOU in both your education and your lifestyle.

You may like to take into consideration the following criteria:

• Major
  The major is the subject in which you choose to concentrate. You don't have to declare the major when you apply to the university - you will do it by the end of the second year of study. But if you have a specific program in mind, it is wise to select universities which offer that field. Access university websites or college catalogs available at our Advising Center in order to find the programs you are particularly interested in.

• Entrance difficulty
  College catalogs include statistics regarding the number of applications received by a school, as well as the number of students admitted. You will notice that very competitive schools generally receive huge numbers of applications but accept a much smaller number, while moderately difficult colleges usually admit a larger number of applicants.
  Visit university websites and check the freshman profile. You'll see their SAT scores, GPA, etc. and learn how competitive the students admitted to the program are.

• Campus size and location
  Consider also the size of the student population and the campus location. Will you enjoy the independence - and anonymity - of a huge campus with 50,000 students, or will you feel better in a small college with a couple of hundred students, where everybody knows everybody?
  You will find schools in urban, suburban or rural settings. An urban campus will give you easy access to a wide range of cultural and entertainment opportunities. A rural campus will provide a quieter environment, where you can concentrate more on your academic work. Which environment is for you? 

• Coed or single-sex colleges
  The U.S. offers a huge number of coeducational schools, but also a significant range of single sex colleges. Single sex colleges take pride in the fact that a high percentage of their graduates become leaders in their communities and careers. You may like to consider this option that allows you to put all your energies into your personal development.

• Rankings
  There's no official college ranking by the U.S. Government or the U.S. Department of Education. Therefore take all rankings with caution, especially if they don't explain the criteria on which they are based.
  Try to learn about colleges you're not familiar with. Think beyond the Ivy League schools: there are lots of good colleges in the United States where you can get admission and funding.
  Consider your objectives and motivations first, research the programs carefully and find the institutions that are RIGHT for YOU.

Tools for college search:

If you are far away from the Fulbright Educational Advising Center and find it hard to visit and use its multiple resources, you can always relay on the Internet. Below you will find a number of sites and resources that have proved helpful to Romanian applicants:

Peterson's: www.petersons.com.   Go to  the section Colleges and Universities, then click on International Students, then Search Colleges by Subject, or any other criterion you want to use.

College Board's: www.collegeboard.com.   Go to section Find a College, then click on College Search. To get started, pick a category, then use your own criteria for searching colleges.