How to Create a College List

You have your dream school in mind and have been waiting to spread your wings and leave home. But before you set your sights on just one pathway, a lot of work goes into preparing for college, and you have to prepare for the potential of not getting into the first option.

Our step-by-step guide on building a college list details everything you need to know about applying for college and pinpointing the best choices for your future. 

When to Start Your College List

The earlier, the better! When you reach your sophomore year, start thinking about all the options available. If you are a junior, this is a good time to start narrowing down your choices into a list. When you become a senior, you should have your final college list created and ready to work with. 

Beginning your college list early will allow plenty of time for research and to find the right fit. 

Building a College List: 5 Key Points

As you begin choosing a college, you’ll have many factors to consider. The best places to start are the five areas below:

Safety, Target and Reach

Safety schools are colleges where your academic level is above the student average for the school’s admitted students. Your target institutions align with your test scores or grade point average (GPA), or you may be a little above the admission average for these schools. Finally, your reach schools are where you are less likely to be admitted based on their average criteria — you may just meet or perhaps fall below the admission criteria. Despite most colleges admitting applicants, your reach schools will likely be challenging.

A balanced college list should include all of the above categories of schools. 

Culture and Location

Spending an average of four years away from the place you have called home throughout childhood and adolescence is a massive step. With this in mind, you will want to research and find the right cultural fit and location. Think about the available extracurriculars you can join, the town or city where your campus is, and the life you can build outside of campus in your downtime.

As you get closer to graduating, start planning campus tours to get a feel for different places. If you are beginning your college plans early, try to reach out to current students in the courses you would like to take. It is also good to research the dorm situation and whether dorm life or renting privately is better.

Majors and Academic Pathways

You might dream of spending your four-year college career in sunny climates and downtime on the beach. However, it is essential to prioritize the degree program first before packing your summer wardrobe. Consider whether your dream college has the best academic program that matches your career goals.

Other factors to consider are co-op programs, the credentials of professors and other faculty members, and internship availability. Resources like the College Scorecard are great places to research your academic program.

Sticker and Net Price

Determining how to cover tuition fees and identifying available financial aid options is just the start. You will notice a sticker price and a net price when doing your research. The sticker price includes how much you will pay, including all expenses like housing and food. The net price, however, is the amount you will pay after receiving relevant scholarships and financial aid.

Use the College Net Price Calculator to help determine the associated costs for your program. Other resources to research costs are College Scorecard and Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), to find out which financial aid options you qualify for.

Success Rate

Research has found that the six-year completion rate was 61.1% for the 2018 fall cohort, the highest rate recorded among the 12 cohorts. The success rates of your chosen colleges will help steer your focus on selecting a college that matches your needs. Find key statistics, such as the graduation rate and median earnings of students who received federal financial aid, through your College Scorecard research. 

Start Building Your College List Spreadsheet

Organization is crucial. As you begin, you may soon find the college research and application process challenging. Building a spreadsheet you can edit as you go along is a practical solution to get on top of all your research and applications. Here is the essential information to include and analyze:

• Safety, target or reach: Labelling each school as your safety, target or reach helps you create a balanced list and sets expectations when submitting applications.
• Average GPA scores: Record the average GPA of admitted students to compare with your score and evaluate your chances of acceptance.
• Test scores: Examining the middle 50% SAT®/ACT scores for each school helps you determine how your performance aligns with the college.
• Sticker and net prices: Documenting your chosen colleges’ sticker and net prices allows you to compare their affordability. 
• Location: Noting the city and state of your options will help you decide where you want to live throughout your college career. 
• Major: Making a list of your preferred majors allows you to narrow the search and only consider schools with the best programs that align with your goals.
• Admission deadlines: Noting the admission deadline for each school can help you track sent applications and plan all the necessary elements of the application process. 
• Housing: Understanding dorm and housing policies will help you weigh your options. Think about whether campus life is the right fit or if living away from your peers is the best direction for you.
• Extracurriculars: Away from your lectures, research social groups and other activities you can join in your downtime. Making time for socializing and making new friends will help you adjust to new surroundings.
• Room for notes: Leave a column for any additional notes you have. Perhaps you have attended a few college fairs and have some thoughts on culture and diversity. 

If Google Sheets and Excel documents may leave you feeling overwhelmed, platforms like BigFuture from College Board® may make it easier to manage your college list and career research in one place.

How Many Colleges Should You Apply To?

There is no set number of applications you should send. However, there should be a good balance of safety, target and reach schools to give you as many opportunities as possible. Balance applying for many schools with the application fees for each school. Depending on where you apply, an application can cost anywhere from $40 to over $100.

Think about the time it will take to send each application, too. Requirements differ from college to college, including essay specifications. When making your final shortlist of schools to apply for, consider whether you want to spend the time and energy applying for a degree program that does not fully interest you.

Speak With a College Admissions Counselor

At Insight Education, our approach to preparing students for college starts as soon as ninth grade. Our counseling programs target different stages of your college research and application process. We also offer our next stage Sophomore Edge program, the two-year Junior Distinction program, and the Senior Insight program toward the end of high school. Contact us to book your initial consultation and discover the best-fit college for your future.