Choosing a college is not the kind of decision to take lightly. It involves numerous factors, including cost, fit, location, postgraduate success and other aspects that will shape a student's collegiate experience. Beyond that, the college choice will influence friendships, extracurricular opportunities and daily life on and off campus. Considering the weight of this decision, an applicant should take a hard look at what he or she wants out of a school before choosing that state university because he or she grew up cheering for the football team, or that quirky liberal arts college three states away. Here are 10 tips to help students weigh the merits of a college once that acceptance letter arrives.

Focus on fit

Students should put a heavy emphasis on finding the right fit when choosing a college, experts say. Where students go to school will color many aspects of their lives, so finding a place they can embrace will serve them well in the transition to college. And it's a long-term commitment. "You want to feel comfortable where you are enrolling. It's not just an education; it will be your home for the next four years," Eric Nichols, vice president for enrollment management at Loyola University Maryland, wrote in an email.
 

Explore campus beyond the tour

While campus tours are informative and often led by enthusiastic student ambassadors, it's also an experience curated by the college. It's a great way to see much of campus and hear about it from a student's perspective, but typically not all-encompassing. Applicants should seek out other stops and students. "In addition to the tour, spend some extra time on campus. Pay attention to the students. Stop a few students on campus, tell them you're a prospective student, and ask them a few questions," Christopher Rim, CEO of Command Education, wrote in an email. One caveat to that advice is that physical college visits may not always be possible, so students should consider alternatives, such as virtual tours.