Searching for “best colleges in the country” is too general to find what you are looking for. Even specifying a program, such as “best colleges for MBA”, may not be enough. Instead of that “best colleges for MBA” search, take time to look into what makes a college program the best. What qualities set it above the rest?
- Best Colleges for MBA
What makes a college offering the Master of Business Administration “the best”? Every organization is going to have their own list, so finding common schools on each list is a good way to start. From there, look at each school and their MBA program. Do they all follow specific curricula, or have professors who all attended the same grad school? What kind of experience does the teaching staff have? Does it go beyond theory, into practice?
- Best Colleges for Political Science
Like the MBA, first take a look at the staff when considering a school for a PoliSci degree. Remember, there is only so much that a degree based around theory can do. You will find it much more beneficial if you find a school with professors who have that hands-on political experience. If they have been down in the political trenches, they will be able to see things in a different light than someone who has just read and studied about said trenches. Choosing a school close to a booming political scene can also be rather helpful, but not absolutely crucial.
- Best Colleges for History
History is a very general term. It is important to narrow down the type of history that you want to pursue first, then look from there. In history, consider if a school has the proper materials to offer a well-rounded program. If you are looking for Ancient Egyptian history, do they have the largest collection of mummies or stone tablets covered in hieroglyphs? If it something like archaeology, you would not consider going to a school that did not have an extensive fossil collection, would you?
- Best Colleges for Biology
Biology is another broad term that you could use some specification on before you decide where to go. There is general, marine, molecular, or microbiology. There is also botany, zoology, ecology, and even pre-med can be lumped in there. And not every one of these is going to be the best program all at the same school. For these, it would not hurt to find a school that has a professor who has made significant discoveries or contributions to the field.
A college search is not easy. Nor should it be. You should invest a serious amount of time into finding that perfect school that you may owe a significant amount of debt to for some time, and that could be helping you to set up a lifelong career with your education. Really take the time to consider, and do not be afraid to speak to others about the decision. It is a serious life choice, and should be made well-educated and thought out.
