Obviously, it’s very important to go to a college that has your major and challenges you academically.  However, I think some students and many parents, in particular, underestimate the importance of all the other variables that can make or break a college experience.  When counseling students, of course, I always advise them to do research on majors, to make sure that their list of colleges has their major subjects of interest among other deal breaker type issues, and tell students that they need to also think about whether they would be happy living there for four years.  Students can be surprised by my invitation to examine this issue.  I remind students that they and/or their parents are customers in this college admissions “purchase.”  No one wants to be disappointed, especially with the skyrocketing costs of a college education.  So, I share with you a list of the top 10 colleges with the happiest students…BTW, my sister Joyce attended Barnard and my sister Joanne went to Brandeis…

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/unigo/top-10-colleges-with-the-_b_1840568.html?utm_hp_ref=tw#s1448191&title=6_Brandeis_University