The others have added much good advice. When deciding on a seminary, I strongly considered a few additional things (in no particular order):
1) Confessionalism. How strongly confessional were the teachers? Do they hold to the LBC? 3 forms? WStandards? Or all 6? Do they really emphasize confessions or is it just kind of something in the background? It makes a world of difference to sit under teachers who know their confessions and can answer questions by the confessions. I have learned to appreciate the value of knowledge in our confessions so much more through this.
2) I researched the major teachers to find the "plus" and "minuses" of their individual theology. This is sooo essential. You should know WHO you will be learning from and WHAT their theology is? What will they be teaching you (positively & negatively) that another teacher might not teach? What do the critics say about the teachers? Investigate their books on Amazon and read the thoughtful negative reviews. Google their books to find bloggers who have reviewed these books and make note of the blogger's theology (Reformed? Lutheran?) and his criticisms of the work. Remember, they will be teaching you this same worldview. And many seminaries have some significant differences that are not at all apparent from a surface glance. Seminary professors often differ over issues like Covenant Theology views (Murray, Robertson, Kline or Old Dead Guys); Law/Gospel Distinction (this is pretty huge issue with some calling others "Antinomian" or "Legalists" depending on where they fall); sanctification (3rd use of the law; Is it not just taught but emphasized and practiced?); Preaching style taught (Experiential and/or Redemptive Historical); Federal Vision/New Perspectives on Paul heresy (some professors may be warmer to these than others); Church and State views (Old Two Kingdoms; Kuyperian; Neo-Kuyperian; Neo-Two Kingdoms, Theonomy etc);
If going to RTS, consider:
Charles E. Hill has an excellent reputation on early church fathers.
Simon J. Kistemaker is a big name. Written a lot. So you should be able to read up on his theology.
John Frame has taken a lot of criticism over the years. Gets accused of being "warm" to Federal Vision heresy founder Norman Shepherd. Wrote an affirming chapter about Shepherd (where he defends Shepherd; any criticisms are almost non-existent) in his new Systematic Theology book. Personally, this really bothered me that Frame never mentions that Shepherd teaches what all the majority of Reformed Denominations have called a heresy.
If going to Nicole Institute, become very familiar with the theology of:
http://rts.edu/site/rtsnearyou/orlando/nibs/faculty.aspx
Tom Ascol
Michael Haykin - much focus on Andrew Fuller's theology
Thomas Nettles
Samuel Waldron
And compare their theology to what you might learn from the Institute for Reformed Baptists Studies at WSCAL. Make sure you choose the program that fits the theology you want to learn. They may be very different. I did notice that two of the above Professors are teachers at SBTS, so they may have a distinct theology. Do they teach the LBC's version of the sacraments as "a means of grace"? (See bottom comments)
3) When visiting, watch very carefully for the warmth of the seminary. Seminaries can have completely different atmospheres. Some places are more friendly to other nationalities and women, some are colder. Some are more cliquish, some are more welcoming to all. Some foreigners can have a really bad experience where they graduate having made zero friends.
4) Check out the free ITunesU (I Tunes University) section in ITunes Store to get a feel for how much you will learn in their classes. You can compare a History course from one seminary with another. Some teachers pack their courses with a lot of data; some will teach you less material. RTS Orlando has MANY courses on ItunesU that you can download for free.
5) Emphasis on languages. Some seminaries have a stronger/weaker language requirement.
6) Emphasis on reading ORIGINAL primary sources. It is shocking how many "scholars" have written articles quoting someone who claimed Calvin said so-and-so. But they never actually read Calvin to discover that he did NOT say so-and-so. Some seminaries will only accept papers that emphasize the original authors/sources. So you will read Augustine. You will read the early church fathers. You will also read what people claim about them, but you will have the opportunity to make up your own mind.
7) Grading and scholarships. Some professors are very hard graders and this has nothing directly to do with the amount/value of what you learn. Be careful not to pick a school that grades so difficult that you will quit after the first year. Unless you think this steep learning curve is effectively weeding out those who can't pass?
Also find out what sort of financial support they offer.
8) Make sure they have good churches you'd like to join nearby. Visit the churches when you visit the seminary. You will be living here for 3-4 years. A good church makes a difference.
9) Are the professors Totally/Confessionally Reformed? Or are they only 5-pt Calvinists with a mixed/confused rest of their theology? Or Arminian? Or Lutheran? Or mixed/confused? This has to make such a huge difference! I can't imagine going to a seminary where one professor contradicts another constantly and you come out with a mixed, messed up, confused theology. Many seminaries that people consider "Reformed" actually have professors that are not. Example: I've been told by several Masters Seminary guys that the seminary is/was almost all 4-Pt Calvinist professors.
10) Will the professors teach you Covenant Theology (and which version is important!) or Dispensationalism?
11) I saw that it was already ruled out, but from my experience with my Baptist brothers in the "Institute of Reformed Baptist Studies" here at WSCAL, their program provides a very solid education. You will be reading the original writings of early Particular Baptists (before their views got "tainted"). Guys like Nehemiah Coxe and Benjamin Keach. You will learn their original Covenant Theology and not the later modified "corrupted" view. Not sure if you will find such a careful and specialized education elsewhere.
http://www.reformedbaptistinstitute.org/index.php?s=keach From what I gather talking to them, there are different strands of Particular Baptists and the majority can be quite different in theology.
I'm on our candidates and exams committee, and there seems to be some coaching & "canned" responses that men have accepted without thinking through.
. I hope that Rev. Gordon is well.
