The Best College You Have Not Considered Higher Education The Choice on India Ink Guidance on American college applications for readers in India from The Times's admissions blog. Ariha Setalvad, who is studying journalism and psychology as an undergraduate at New York University, was raised in India and graduated from B. D. Somani International School in Mumbai. She is a summer intern for The Choice. This is Ms. Setalvad's second post of advice for Indian students who hope to attend schools in the United States. We thought the post also applied to students from different backgrounds, so we present it here in its entirety. There are more than 6,000 higher education institutions in the United States. But ask most prospective international college students where they are applying and chances are the same dozen names will come up over and over again (read: anything Ivy League). Yes, those prestigious colleges are popular for many reasons. But limiting your applications to only the most famous and selective schools could prove detrimental to your college experience. One of the main advantages of an American college education is the expansive options it provides. There are endless study options available for students today. Most Indians seem to believe, and have for years, that no degree except for business and medicine is really worth getting. Needless to say, that is far from the truth. Latha Ramchand, dean of the C. T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston, agreed. "Part of the disconnect comes from viewing a degree as an end in itself rather than a means to something," she said. I would urge potential applicants to think about what they want to do with their foreign degree and fine tune your college list based on the schools that might fit in with their career aspirations. So first, decide what you want to study - think about this one, you're going to spend at least four years immersed in it. Second, take your parents" advice into consideration but don't let them bully you into fulfilling their dreams - even if they insist they are only "suggesting." Third, and most important, pick the college that's right for you, no matter how big or small, well-known, or not. "Students wanting to pursue a career in music will have a different set of schools compared to someone who wants a business degree," Ms. Ramchand said. Even in business there are choices across areas - an Indian student who wants to run their family's business may focus on a program that is known for its entrepreneurship rankings compared to someone who wants to focus on accounting skills. There are several good schools within each of these sub-specialties that offer good program options which can be combined with internship experiences that can eventually mature into job opportunities. Unfortunately, the thousands of books on college rankings can perpetuate the belief that there are only about 30 schools worth attending. Here is a partial list of schools that may not come to mind as readily as, say, Harvard. But each has a sizable population of international students, is comparatively easy on the pocket and may warrant a spot on your list. International student figures courtesy of Open Doors reports from the Institute of International Education. Michigan State University East Lansing, Mich. 5,748 international students Most Popular Majors: Advertising, Finance, Education Average class size: 29 Tuition and fees: $25,722 Graduation rate four-year (six-year): 73 percent (74 percent) Percent receiving financial aid: 64 percent University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis 5,124 international students Most Popular Majors: Social Sciences, Engineering, Biology Average class size: 25 Tuition and fees: $18,022 Graduation rate four-year (six-year): 66 percent (unreported) Percent receiving financial aid: 69 percent Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio 6,082 international students Most Popular Majors: Biology, Finance, Psychology Average class size: 28 Tuition and fees: $24,204 Graduation rate four-year (six-year): 46 percent (71 percent) Percent receiving financial aid: 98 percent Texas A&M University College Station, Tex. 4,874 international students Most Popular Majors: Biological and Physical Sciences, Multi-Interdisciplinary Studies, Observations Management and Supervision Average class size: 26 Tuition and fees: $19,726 Graduation rate four-year (six-year): 41 percent (77 percent) Percent receiving financial aid: 76 percent University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, Wis. 4,647 international students Most Popular Majors: Social Sciences, Biology, Business/Marketing Average class size: 29 Tuition and fees: $25,415 Graduation rate four-year (six-year): 49 percent (80 percent) Percent receiving financial aid: 55 percent Many students are overly enamored with big-name schools. Becoming obsessed with a school's prestige can lead you to one that may not fit who you are and who you want to be. Don't dismiss the advantage of doing in-depth research and pick the college that's right for you. How are you choosing where you apply? Are you applying to any unexpected colleges? Please let us know in the comment box below.