Are you thinking about college and wondering about creating a college list? You might be familiar with the idea already, or it could be new to you, but putting together a list of potential schools can seem overwhelming. We’re here to help you by breaking this process down step by step in a friendly way. […]
Are you thinking about college and wondering about creating a college list? You might be familiar with the idea already, or it could be new to you, but putting together a list of potential schools can seem overwhelming. We’re here to help you by breaking this process down step by step in a friendly way.
A college list is simply a list of all the schools you are considering applying to. It is helpful because:
– It ensures you have a mix of safety, target, and reach schools.
– It introduces you to schools you may not have thought about.
– It keeps you organized during the application process.
It’s a good idea to start casually thinking about colleges in your freshman and sophomore years, but you shouldn’t stress about making a formal list until junior year. By the beginning of senior year, your list should be finalized so you can focus on your applications.
When determining how many schools to apply to, it’s recommended to have around 8-12 schools on your list. Make sure your list includes safeties (70%+ chance of admission), targets (30%-70% chance), and reaches (less than 30% chance). Keep in mind that schools with less than a 10% acceptance rate will be a high reach for any student.
Factors to consider when making your list include school size, location, academic offerings, cost, student body demographics, campus life, and post-college outcomes. Also consider any unique hooks you may have for individual schools, such as legacy, athletic recruitment, direct, affiliations, etc., as these may also influence your acceptance rate somewhat.
Steps to build your college list:
1. Figure out what’s important to you.
2. Research schools that match your criteria.
3. Create a preliminary list of schools you’re interested in.
4. Categorize schools into safeties, targets, and reaches.
5. Narrow down your list to 8-12 schools by researching further and ensuring a balanced list.
6. Consider any unique majors or specialized programs.
7. Strategize your application plan to set you up for success – identifying unique factors about each school/program that are a mutual fit for you.
8. Check with your high school to see if there is an established pipeline of admissions from your school to the colleges on your list – this will also help determine if there is a likelihood of admissions offers at your school.
9. Fill in any gaps by adding more schools as needed.
10. Consider the varying application rounds and how to use them strategically to give you a better chance at admission – ED1, ED2, REA, EA, RD, rolling admissions.
It’s a process that takes time, but if you approach each step thoughtfully, you’ll end up with a strong college list that reflects your preferences and goals.
*A counselor experienced in developing college lists, who has unique insights of each school and what they’re looking for, can help you customize your list to identify mutual fits and set you up for success.
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