How to Create a College List
In putting together a list of the colleges you will apply to, there are several questions to ask yourself:
What am I like as a student? – Think about what you enjoy studying, what subjects you are good at, whether you know what you want to study in college and aim for as a career (if you’re not sure, you are in good company!). Consider how hard you want to study in college and how rigorous you want the academics to be. Do you learn best in small classes, with teachers who know you and draw you out, or would you prefer a more anonymous seat in a large auditorium?
What am I like as a person? – Think about the campus environment that will allow you to thrive. Would you like to be a big fish in a small pond? Would you like lots of activities, big-time sports, and Greek life? Or do you prefer a more personalized, quiet atmosphere, with a small group of good friends? When students transfer from one college to another, it’s usually because of dissatisfaction with the campus culture, so this is an important aspect to check out.
What can I afford? – A college’s list price is often not what you would pay. Use the cost calculator on each college’s financial aid webpages to get an estimate of what that college would cost you. If you will need financial help to attend, you can enter information about your circumstances and get a sense of the amount you would be expected to pay. If you hope to receive merit aid (essentially a discount on your tuition), plan to apply to several colleges where your credentials are at the high end, compared to other students the college has been admitting.
Can I get in? – Your list should include a range of admission difficulty, with at least two colleges where you are almost certain you’d be admitted (compare your GPA, number of advanced level courses, and test scores with those of students the college has admitted recently). If you like, aim for a couple of colleges where it’s not that likely that you’d get in, but you’d love it if you did. And apply mainly to colleges where your credentials fall solidly within the midrange of test scores and grades of admitted students.
There is no such thing as a “best school” – you’re looking for the best schools for you. It’s unlikely that they are the same schools that are ideal for your best friend, so try to be open-minded and willing to branch out!
Research your schools in guidebooks and on their own websites to get to know them. Below are some helpful resources for researching and creating a college list. Be sure to also check out our College Resources page on our website to access more tools for the college planning process!
