Students, Graduates Share Why They Picked Their Colleges

Why I Picked Northeastern University (Boston)

Rachael Tompa, 20 14 graduate

I knew I wanted a career in aerospace and defense, so when I visited Northeastern's campus, I was happy not only to be shown the usual sights like dorms, classrooms and the beautiful rec center, but also to be taken on faculty-led tours of the university's state-of-the art electrical, mechanical and civil engineering labs.

I was impressed, too, by Northeastern's outstanding co-op program, which enables students to rotate classroom work with on-the-job experience at major companies. I spent six-month rotations working in operations at Raytheon Co., flight testing at Sikorsky Aircraft and in thermal engineering at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Why I Picked the University of California--Davis (Davis, California)

Carly Sandstrom, 20 14 graduate

The first time I visited Davis I fell in love with this university -- the trees, arboretum, a picturesque downtown and the smiles of people as you pass by. UC--Davis gave me a chance to attend a school that's both strong academically and encourages service.

A favorite memory: One day freshman year, I was biking through campus with the student body president and another student. The president saw members of the student ministry doing some landscaping in their front yard. He got off his bike and urged us to pitch in and help. That is UC--Davis -- spontaneous and giving.

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Why I Picked Kenyon College (Gambier, Ohio)

Rebecca Katzman, 20 14 graduate

Kenyon had the academic prestige of all of those East Coast liberal arts colleges I visited, but was the only school where I wrote down observations such as "comfortable feeling" and "happy people."

It attracts students from all over the world, yet has a protective boarding school feel. Not far from campus, you'll find a rich agricultural landscape and people of vastly different political and socioeconomic backgrounds.

I appreciate that Kenyon emphasizes writing throughout the curriculum and, as an English minor, I've been able to take classes with amazing professors like David Lynn, editor of the famous "Kenyon Review." I feel the college has prepared me for the future as I head off now to New York on a fellowship with a new media group.

Why I Picked Grinnell College (Grinnell, Iowa)

Jeremy Sanchez, 20 14 graduate

Grinnell fosters a sense of community among students and a desire to serve the "common good," which was obvious from my first visit to the school. A first-year student showed me around and, when I asked about the science facilities and professors, he found friends who could answer my questions firsthand.

The college supported my successful application for a Fulbright scholarship, and after teaching for a year in Korea, I hope to go on to medical school. Grinnell opened doors for me that once seemed unimaginable to a first-generation Latino student.

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Why I Picked the University of Georgia (Athens, Georgia)

Tia Samrawit Ayele, 20 14 graduate

I chose UGA because of its affordability, excellent academic reputation and strong sense of community. As an honors student, I have the best of both worlds: I attend a large land-grant university but still get a tightknit community feel from the honors college.

I've been able to pursue undergraduate research with renowned experts on Middle Eastern studies, intern at a leading economic policy think tank and develop other areas of interest. My entire experience at UGA has given me outstanding contacts and policy exposure, which will be invaluable as I pursue a career in foreign affairs.

Why I Picked Fisk University (Nashville, Tennessee)

Lamar Allen, junior

I wanted to attend a historically black institution that would culturally nurture and academically challenge me. Fisk pulled me in with its rich history, family-oriented environment and its reputation for academic achievement.

As a business administration major concentrating in accounting, I have been able to develop my quantitative and financial skills with the help of the small class sizes and my professors, who have given me the personal attention I desired. Fisk has given me the opportunity to interact and build relationships with associates of top investing firms, such as Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.

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Why I Picked Barnard College (New York City)

Gabrielle Davenport, senior

I first learned about Barnard when my older sister attended. Visiting campus, I was struck by how excited and confident the students seemed. When I applied, I felt this historic women's college would allow me to explore my varied interests and not press me to specialize too quickly. The campus community itself feels small and personal.

The college's partnership with Columbia University gives us access to the resources of an Ivy League institution, while the incomparable New York City lies just outside our gates, offering me the chance to apply what I've learned to real-world situations.

Why I Picked the University of Arizona (Tucson, Arizona)

Daniel Fried, 20 14 graduate

I chose UA for its rich, research-driven academic environment and opportunities for student involvement. As a computer science, information science and mathematics major, I took advantage of research opportunities in artificial intelligence and data visualization beginning my freshman year.

My interests have led me outside the campus borders: UA's study abroad program allowed me to spend a summer in Germany doing machine learning research, and I also had the opportunity to do a semesterlong research internship in Japan working in computational linguistics. My time at UA has opened doors for my future that I never anticipated.

Why I Picked the U.S. Air Force Academy (Colorado)

Michael Gallagher, 20 14 graduate

Since I was 6 years old, I've wanted to be an Air Force pilot, so the Air Force Academy was the obvious choice for me after high school. The experience has been both rigorous and rewarding.

During the week, cadets study everything from the military strategy of Operation Iraqi Freedom to the rocket propulsion needed to transfer from low Earth to high Earth orbit. Training continues on weekends, when we learn skills like land navigation and marksmanship. Though we work hard, cadets still manage to have fun doing everything from seeing movies to applying woodland tactics with the Airsoft Club to learning blues dancing.

This story is excerpted from the U.S. News "Best Colleges 2015" guidebook, which features in-depth articles, rankings and data.