A college curriculum doesn’t need to be trendy or gimmicky to be engaging. As you look at colleges, be sure to spend time exploring their course catalogs. Determine whether a college has a strong first-year curriculum to support your transition into college-level coursework and whether a college offers courses that interest you.
All colleges should have elective courses that make you feel excited, but make sure they have substance rather than fluff. That intriguing class about monsters and zombies may or may not be worth your tuition dollars.
If you think you know what you want to study, look at the requirements of your major at each college. The courses should cover subject areas that attract you and will prepare you well for your desired career or graduate program.