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Creating a well-rounded college list is not only important but essential in maximizing your chances of getting accepted into your dream schools. But with so many options out there, where do you even begin? Don't worry, we've got you covered. From identifying safety, match, and reach schools to researching colleges, we will provide you with the essential steps to create a well-rounded college list. So let's dive in on some strategies to help maximize your acceptance chances into your dream school!

Determine Your Safety, Match, and Reach schools

In today’s competitive admissions landscape, your college list should consist of 9-12 schools and include a healthy mix of safety, match, and reach schools.

Schools are categorized by the following two factors:
1. GPA and test scores
Schools report the GPAs and test scores for the middle 50% range of admitted students. Figure out where you fall within this percentile breakdown for each college. It's also important to factor in your demographic because the middle 50% of test scores for some demographics are actually higher than the reported number above. The College Board publishes annual reports that break down SAT scores by state and demographic.
2. Overall acceptance rate
Remember, schools with acceptance rates below 20% are not safety schools for anyone!

Keeping these two factors in mind, here is our formula for building the perfect college list:

Narrow Down Your College List

Now that you have a rough draft of your school list, it’s time to thoroughly research and evaluate colleges based on your academic and career goals. To help with your research, I've identified five key points to guide you in refining your college list. 

Research the School’s Curriculum and Majors

First, identify your academic interests by reflecting on the subjects that truly excite you and spark your curiosity. This self-reflection will help you determine which majors and programs to explore when researching colleges. 

Once you have a better understanding of your interests, narrow your search by curriculum: 

• Liberal Arts vs. National Universities
• Specialized “Colleges” within a school: College of Engineering, Business, Arts and Sciences, etc.
• Pre-Professional Schools: nursing, dental, etc.
• Special focus: arts colleges, specialized-mission colleges, religious colleges
• Course/Distributional Requirements: core curriculum, general education, open

You can further refine your search by major:

• Review courses within majors
• Understand the flexibility (or inflexibility) of major
• Size of department 
• Double major, minor options

Identify Your Ideal School Size

When evaluating your personal preferences and fit, it is important to consider factors such as the size of the college. Below, I've listed some pros and cons for both small and large schools.

Small Colleges (less than 5,000 students): 

• Pros: smaller class sizes, more interaction with professors, stronger advising systems, more leadership opportunities
• Cons: fewer research facilities, smaller alumni network, fewer major choices, less variety in housing options

Large Colleges (more than 15,000 students): 

• Pros: more selection of majors and extracurricular activities, unlimited social opportunities, attracts distinguished faculty members
• Cons: less attention from professors, less likely to have someone hold you accountable, easier to get lost in the crowd

Research Clubs, Organizations, and Study Abroad Programs

Utilize the school’s website as a resource and research the different clubs and organizations at each school.  Here’s an example from Northwestern’s admissions website. Being familiar with these opportunities not only allows you to assess a college's commitment to student development, but also provides insight into how you can enrich your college experience. Similarly, studying abroad can broaden your horizons, exposing you to different cultures, languages, and perspectives, ultimately promoting global awareness and adaptability.

Consider the following when researching study abroad programs:

• Percentage of students that study abroad
• Number of study abroad programs
• Partnerships with other universities
• Timing and length of programs
• College credit

Plan Campus Visits

To make the most out of your visit, create a detailed itinerary and sign up for campus tours, Q&A and information sessions. Try to experience what a typical day would look like by checking out the dorms, eating in the dining hall, and attending sports events. Most importantly, meet with professors, advisors, and current students and ask them questions!

Pro Tip: Remember to write down the names of the people you speak with so you can send thank you emails after your visit. If you are struggling with what questions to ask, I've included some examples below. 

Questions to Ask Professors: 

• What are the best reasons to go to this college? 
• How many students do research or other kinds of projects for a semester or more?
• What does it take to be successful in your class?
• What have you noticed about the type of student at your school?

Questions to Ask Current Students: 

• Why did you choose this college/major?
• What are 3-4 things you would like to change about the school?
• How has the school helped with your career development?
• How would you summarize the campus culture?
• What does a normal day look like?
• Who is your favorite professor and why?

If you are unable to visit the college in person, take advantage of virtual visits! Some websites that offer virtual college tours are YouVisit, CampusTours, and CampusReels (for student-generated videos).

Reference Ranking Lists

Rankings are useful tools to supplement your school research. However, due to the fact that many factors are neglected in these ranking lists, do not build your college list off of rankings alone — only use these as a guide.

With that in mind, here are some resources to help with your search: 

• U.S. News and World Report by department-specific ranking
• Ranking lists like the Princeton Review “Happiest Students” 
• College guidebooks (ex: Fiske)
• 3rd party resources (ex: Niche)

Do Your Research and Strategically Create Your College List

Building a college list that maximizes your chances of acceptance requires thorough research and consideration of various factors. If you are feeling overwhelmed and need further assistance, you can sign up today for a free strategy call with one of our expert Enrollment Counselors. 

Students who work with us are 7x more likely to get into a top-ranked school and we can help you build the perfect college list to maximize your chances of acceptance into your dream school.