That varies by the person. But for the most part, I thought about:
- Location
- Size
- Whether or not it was a residential campus. I wanted a lot of life to the place, even on weekends
- The majors offered
- The vibe, and did I feel like it fit me
- The reputation of the school. Was it respected?
- The activities available outside of class (and I had certain ones on my must-have list)
- The Greek system. I wanted a school with little-to-no Frats.
- The ability to get around the campus, and to town and etc., without a car
- Financial aid available, and what they offered me
Those were my key search points.