Hello! I was also stuck between choosing schools, but I started my elimination process before even receiving any interviews LOL I'm Canadian so I had to choose where I wanted to apply carefully, since it's expensive having to fly out each time for an interview. I decided to apply to SCCO, PCO and NECO.
For my process of elimination, I made a spreadsheet listing the pros and cons of each school which compared curriculum structure, courses offered, approximate cost of living, options for transportation while attending school, and general safety & convenience of each area. If you're a foodie or have dietary restrictions, you might also wanna look at the variety of food options available in the area. I found it more helpful to compare the cons of each school (choosing the lesser evil).
I didn't compare tuition costs since these schools are all around US$40-45k per year. I also didn't worry too much about the NBEO pass rates because all 3 schools are reputable, and I won't necessarily blame a school for any sub-par performance of its students. At the end of the day, going to school will prepare me to have the required knowledge and skills, but passing the NBEO will depend on my own ability to know all the material and recall it for the test.
In the end, I got accepted to both SCCO and PCO and I cancelled my interview with NECO. I interviewed with NECO a few years back (didn't get accepted) so I knew what they had to offer, which was why I decided to cancel my interview. That being said, NECO was actually my top choice school before the application cycle started.
I chose to accept SCCO's offer because I felt so at home there and the faculty was so welcoming. I could picture myself being on that campus for the next 4 years and genuinely enjoy going to school there. I also have some extended family living in SoCal, which is a bonus even though PCO and NECO are much closer to Toronto. I also love Mexican and Vietnamese food, which are both very accessible in SoCal.
Weather was also a big factor for me. I grew up with all 4 seasons and I dread any sort of precipitation. I was offered a generous renewable scholarship at PCO, but I just couldn't see myself enjoying my time there, so I declined their offer of admission. Some may call this a dumb financial decision, but I'm sure there is someone else out there that needs the financial support and that wants the seat at PCO much more than me.
I hope this helps with your elimination process!
