Just like many of my colleagues and friends, the long and tedious search for the next four years of my life has begun. The decision of where to go to college is likely one of the most important decisions for a young adult, not only in terms of future success, but also in terms of long-term happiness. Many people are also still struggling to find out what path they want to take in life. For most, a college major will come to dictate how the rest of your life will evolve before your eyes: affecting your career, social life, and security. Majors can vary from school to school, with each college having a different name for the same course, and each program will exercise its own degree of rigor and intensity, so making a decision for what's best for your major can feel like a monumental task. So this article will help, at least in part, decode the puzzling world of college applications. My list will omit most of the Ivy League or elite level schools, which are always among the highest ranked schools in any given major, but this list is meant to focus more specifically on the attainable and affordable schools whose programs give you the most bang for your buck. All statistics according to USNEWS or Niche.
Computer Science:
Communications:
Government / Political Science:
Business:
Economics:
ELA / Literature:
Nursing:
Chemical Engineering:
Biology:
Rockefeller University
New York City, NY
#17 Political Science (tie)
Not Nationally Ranked
12% Acceptance
Psychology:
Video Production:
Theater:
American Musical and Dramatic Academy - New York
New York City, NY
#4 in Performing Arts
Not Nationally Ranked
22% Acceptance
Music:
Curtis Institute of Music
Philadelphia, PA
#1 in Music
Not Nationally Ranked
5% Acceptance
The Juilliard School
New York City, NY
#3 in Music
Not Nationally Ranked
7% Acceptance
Foods / Culinary:
Culinary Institute of America
Hyde Park, NY
#1 Culinary
Not Nationally Ranked
98% Acceptance
Johnson & Wales University - Providence
Providence, RI
Not Nationally Ranked
45% Acceptance
Metropolitan Community College
Omaha, NE
Not Nationally Ranked
100% Acceptance
