Once you have performed a self-assessment test and identified what is important to you in an academic programme, the next step is looking for specific schools that address your needs. So how do you select the one that suits you? What specific information should you look for and why? What sources should you use?

Here are a few steps in the pre application process which you should consider:

Selection of colleges
This is the first and the most toughest part of the pre-application process. However through proper research this daunting task can be made simpler. This is how you can go about it: Select at least eight colleges that match your requirements and goals. Out of these two should be your dream colleges – one which you have always wanted to be apart of. Select four colleges where you have 50-50 chances of getting admission. The last two choices will include sure bet colleges – where you have 100 per cent chances of getting in.

Identify about their programmes and recognize the biases and limitations of each. Focus on issues such as differences in curriculum, teaching approaches, placement, and financial aid. This can be best done with the help of specialised Study Abroad Counselors.

You can select schools on the bases of:
* Research on the world wide web
* Printed materials
* Rankings
* Accreditation
* Study Abroad Counselors
* Current Students and Alumni
* Friends and relatives
* Human resource professionalsLet’s explore each of these factors indepth.

The World Wide Web
The Internet is a quick and convenient way to locate a large amount of detailed information about programmes offered at various institutions. All schools have a web presence. Look at each school's web site for information on programme types, selection criterion, eligibility, faculty, financial aid, etc. While some schools offer on-line applications for admission; others provide downloadable admissions materials from their web sites.

Printed materials
You can also go through printed brochures of various schools. These are designed to inform prospective students about its programmes. Printed materials can either be ordered over the phone from an admissions department directly or can be requested on a colleges's web site. They are also available with study abroad career counselors.

Accreditation
This term means different things in different parts of the world. Most universities and degree awarding establishments are accredited or licensed by a Government or Government agency to offer degree programs and award degrees (eg through the powers of a Royal Charter in the UK). In some places Universities accredit other institutions to deliver parts or all of their programmes. In many parts of the world independent accrediting organisations have been set up. They also accredit establishments and/or their programmes. Accredited colleges offer high academic quality and excellence. It is easier to transfer from accredited institutions and getting better job opportunities

Rankings
Though the rankings of colleges are widely disputed they are largely used by many students for learning about these instituitions. Remember rankings are not exhaustive listings-they do not examine all programmes options available. Some colleges, by virtue of small size, age, etc., may not be ranked. Remember to keep rankings in perspective. Read explanations of how data are gathered and reported. Statistics can be misinterpreted easily when taken out of context.Rankings are both helpful and misleading-all at the same time. While it helps to have comparative views of different programmes, the research methodologies used in any particular study will affect its outcome, and those methodologies are not always made clear. By comparing and contrasting various studies and by talking to numerous graduates, you will develop a broader view and reduce the chances that any one person's bias or any one study's bias becomes your own. How well a particular programme fits your education, career, and lifestyle goals is the most important consideration.

Study Abroad Counselors
Your decision to study abroad is a major one involving a lot of money and time. It will also influence your future career paths. It is therefore worthwhile to find a good consultant who will cost you less than you'll spend on application fees and taking tests. A good consultant should help you identify your best personal strategy to gain admission and steer you towards the institutions best suited for you. Besides, they will help you write the essay and structure the recommendation letters which will ease your stress during this taxing time period.

Current Students and Alumni
Students and recent alumni are valuable sources of information about the culture and learning environment of a particular school. Students and alumni can provide useful anecdotal information about life at the college school. Ask the following questions:

• How is the faculty?
• Did the programme meet your expectations?

Though students and alumni of a particular college are not expected to be authorities on application requirements, deadlines, or school policies they are still your sources of correct information. Remember that alumni and students are not representing their schools in an official capacity, so they tend to be very frank in their comments to you.

Friends and Relatives
It is advisable to seek the opinions of professionals you trust and respect in the business world. Discuss your plans, not just your prospects of getting the degree, but your expectations once you graduate. If you know people who have already acquired the same degree find out what types of schools they attended and about their experiences. Ask their opinions about various types of programmes and specific colleges.

Human Resources Professionals
Contact HR professionals of particular companies (especially the ones you are interested in). Recruitment officers can be valuable sources of information. Describe your background and intentions for further studies and ask what advice they have for you and what qualifications they seek. 

Financial Aid
This is a very important criteria in selecting a college. Your decisions about studying in a particular college will depend on cost of education in that school and how expensive it is to stay there. Knowing how much the degree will cost you is important tool in planning. The total cost for you to obtain a degree will vary from school to school and is not simply examined by comparing tuition costs. Consider availability of loans, scholarships, etc., and of course the cost of living. Consider both direct and indirect costs. Direct costs are those associated with your enrollment in a graduate management program and fees that you normally pay directly to the school-i.e., tuition, fees, books, and school supplies. Indirect costs are those expenses incurred while attending business school, i.e., housing, utilities, food, personal expenses, transportation, and other living expenses.

Size of the school
A small college would have an average of about 2500 students where you could expect 100% participation, a personal environment, higher student-faculty interaction but fewer academic preferences and lesser diversity. Medium sized colleges have an average strength of 7000 students and offer bigger classes with more academic options & social opportunities and a fair amount of individualized attention. Large colleges average around 12,000 students and have a wider range of courses, strong international presence, more possibilities of teaching assistantships and other jobs. But then you should not expect individualized attention from the faculty.  While you are at it, take a peek at the faculty qualifications too.

Academics
Choose a college which has a wide variety of majors, its easier to switch fields or even opt for a dual major. Most colleges require a good academic record.  Students with brilliant academic track record have a better chance of getting into the most competitive colleges. As for the standardized admission tests such as the TOEFL /GRE /GMAT /SAT and IELTS, your test scores must meet the average requirement of the college 

Student Services
Here the focus should be on the international student office and the facilities provided by it.  Facilities could include guidance in career planning, recruitment services, health care, recreation, campus security services and cafeteria facilities.Location
Choosing the state you would like to study in could depend on various factors like the climate, geographical features and relatives residing in that state.  And then you could visualize yourself in an urban college which offers you opportunities of every kind, or in a suburban college which could be best of both the worlds with no rush hours but at the same time close enough not to miss any action, or in a rural college far away from the maddening crowd.  See what you like best and list those preferred colleges

In the end…
To be able to choose a programme that suits you most you need to align your goals (educational, career, and personal) with programmes that have corresponding strengths. It is in your best interests to look beyond schools' marketing messages.
Your challenge is to be very discriminating in your evaluation of the information presented to you. As you compare schools, you should constantly judge their offerings against what you need and want from a  programme.

Remember that in a competitive application process, you must use your personal judgment to determine which schools are worth your investment of time and money.