Truth: Many colleges, even the elite ones, aren’t always interested in your intellectual development. Instead of emphasizing personal instruction and relationship-building between faculty and students, large research institutions and Ivy League schools often pressure their professors to conduct time-consuming research projects and to publish their findings in academic journals. The incentive is twofold. First, the university receives recognition for the quality of research produced, but second, it also receives financial rewards in the form of grants from government and non-profit foundations, which often award professors stipends for future projects on the basis of articles they've had printed in peer-reviewed publications.

So what can you do, before you apply to a college, to ensure that your education won't come second to the school's other priorities?

Here are some tips on finding a college that values undergraduate academics.

1. Less is more.

When a professor has a small number of students, he/she is able to spend more time interacting individually with each student. With small class sizes professors/instructors are able to tailor their programs to the needs within the classroom. They often don’t have to teach in generalities because the group is over 200 people and might not grasp the concept. Some universities tout low student-faculty ratios, but keep in mind that at places like Harvard, they may be counting graduate students and part-time instructors as "faculty". That means that small classes aren't being taught by professors but by people in their third or fourth years of Ph.D programs. Look not to the advertised student-faculty ratios but to overall campus enrollment. Here’s a blog post on the benefits of going to a small liberal arts college.

2. Consider how (and what) you learn best.

Many colleges offer hands-on training where students are able to work in the field of their choice before graduating. Other schools are textbook-based and offer little on-the–job training. While this kind of school may also be dictated by the major you choose, doing research into what kind of learning environment you thrive in before you apply is a good idea.

Here are a few articles that talk about different ways many colleges approach learning:

• See how UCLA encourages students to study.
• Discover what kind of learner you are by answering just seven questions.
• Read about how some colleges are using meditation to teach college students effective concentration skills.

Students learn concepts in many different ways. If you find yourself struggling to grasp concepts in high school, it might be worth your time to note those struggles and do research as to what kind of instruction works best for you.

3. Ignore the rankings.

Many of the schools that make it to the top of the rankings are prestigious in part because of the research produced by their faculty. Thus, these insitutions often enforce stringent criteria for obtaining tenure (which essentially means a contract for a job for life). This pressures professors to publish articles and do research in hopes of promotion. If you're considering a large research university (such as UCLA or MIT), ask their admissions representatives questions about the quality of teaching and the availability of professors. Less research-oriented schools, like smaller colleges without graduate programs, may offer their students more attention.

4. It's not too early to think about post-grad resources.

Schools are financially motivated to produce successful graduates. The better off their alumni, the more they can expect in donations. Colleges that especially prioritize their students' success not only provide support for seniors to land jobs upon graduation, but offer resources like career counseling to their alumni for life. Check out how Carleton College promotes its seniors seeking jobs.

If you’re curious how the colleges on your list stack up, do your research and ask questions. Make sure the education you are looking for is actually what you receive.