Last Updated on September 30, 2026
Quick answer: To learn how to make a college list, start with what you want from college, then research fit, not just rankings. Avoid common mistakes such as applying only to famous names, ignoring liberal arts colleges, following friends, and choosing safety schools you would not attend. A balanced list mixes reach, target, and likely schools.
How to Make a College List: 7 Mistakes to Avoid
You will be spending four years at your undergraduate institution. It’s actually extremely important that you only apply to colleges that interest you and where you could see yourself being happy. There are several factors to consider, from location to majors offered. When you learn how to make a college list carefully, you cover all of your bases and avoid the most common mistakes. [1]
When you’re researching colleges, it’s important to think about college fit and whether you and the school are a good match for each other. You shouldn’t just apply somewhere all of your friends are applying. You shouldn’t only apply to the top 10 ranked schools either. To help, I’ve outlined 7 mistakes you must avoid when making your school list.
7 College List Mistakes to Avoid
Use these mistakes as a checklist while you research. Each one is common, and each one is easy to fix once you know to look for it.
Applying Only Based on Rankings
One of the most common mistakes that students make as they come up with their list of colleges is focusing only on schools at the top of the US News or other ranking systems. [2] Sure, Ivy League universities are great schools, but they are also highly selective. The competition at most top colleges is only getting tougher, so it is not wise to only apply to the most prestigious and well-known universities. It’s important to make a balanced school list.
Colleges on your list will fit into one of three tiers: reach, target, and safety. Reach schools are schools that might be difficult for you to get into because they are extremely selective or because you fall below the average range for enrolled freshmen. These colleges often are what many applicants consider “top-choice schools,” and are the most competitive. Target schools are those that meet your own numbers, this list of schools is entirely subjective, depending on your GPA and SAT score. Target schools don’t guarantee admission either, as a lot of factors are considered beyond your grades. Don’t take them for granted. Schools are defined as “safety” if your academic credentials are above the average range for admitted freshmen. This doesn’t always mean you’re a shoo-in either, but it’s good to cover your back and keep your options open.
Ignoring Liberal Arts Colleges
When making your school list, you must look at all kinds of colleges, including both national universities and liberal arts colleges. Many students write off liberal arts colleges as they have smaller campuses and student populations. While liberal arts schools aren’t for everyone, many of them do offer solid departments and wonderful facilities across various fields, even STEM. Liberal arts colleges also have various advantages. [4] Often times, they have, better student-to-faculty ratio, which increases the chances of getting to know your professors on a more personal basis, and of course, makes for smaller classes. Some liberal arts colleges also belong to consortia or partnerships that give students access to courses at nearby universities. So, if you want the experience of a close-knit community while at the same time having the option to access resources at the larger university, consider applying to a liberal arts college.
Not Researching Academic Offerings
As you’re making your college list, remember that research is absolutely essential. If you don’t know what a school is known for or where its abilities lie, you won’t be able to determine whether or not it’s a good fit for you or if your interests align with its offerings. Again, don’t just put a school on your list. If you claim that you want to go to an undergraduate business school and you apply to Brown early decision, admissions officers will know that you haven’t done your research (Brown doesn’t have an undergraduate business college!). Since you’re mainly attending college to study, it’s crucial that you are well-versed in the curriculum offered at the school, at least in the field you’re aiming for. A solid grasp on a school’s unique, academic resources will also help your supplemental essays shine in your applications.
Not Speaking to Your College Counselor
As you’re making your school list, make sure you take advantage of a highly valuable resource that you have in your arsenal, your high school counselor. Ask your counselor different questions so that they can help you formulate your list. Your counselor has firsthand knowledge on where students from your high school have gone and where students from your grade are applying. Since admissions officers read applications by region, any student applying from your school will be your direct competition. Your counselor can give you a sense of the abilities of those students, as well as direct you towards schools that may not be commonly chosen by your peers. Your counselor will also write you a recommendation letter, so it definitely helps to start the relationship early!
Applying Because Your Friends Are Doing It
This is a rather obvious mistake to make, but we’ve seen it happen. Students often avoid researching whether a college is a good fit for them, and instead put it on their list because all of their friends are applying there, or because their older friends or siblings have gone in the past. While it’s great to have a familiar face while you embark on this path, you probably won’t get in if you don’t know anything else about the school. Through their supplemental essays, colleges want to know why you’ve chosen them, and “because my friends are doing it” is not a legitimate answer
For example:
Tufts University: “Please describe how you have learned about and engaged with Tufts during your college search process (75-150 words).” [6]
Many other colleges ask a version of the same question, and a generic answer is easy for a reader to spot.
Prompts change from year to year, so read each college’s current questions in the Common App, and see our guide to the “Why This College” essay.
You won’t be able to come up with answers that specifically tie your interests and goals with what makes these institutions unique if the only thing you know about them is that someone you know will be applying there. Your list must be tailored to your application and the facilities and courses you’ll need to thrive for the next four years.
Disregarding Location (or ONLY Considering a Certain Location)
Students often don’t pay attention to where a school is located while making their list of colleges. However, location might very well determine where you go to school as you might prefer a certain type of weather. If you’re highly averse to the winter and you apply to Chicago schools primarily, you won’t enjoy your college experience. Or maybe you are hoping to get internships in politics during the summer or even the school year. In this case, it can benefit you to attend college in Washington, DC.
However, it’s also a mistake while making your school list to consider location too heavily. If you only look at schools in your hometown, or only research colleges in New York City because you’ve always wanted to live there; you could be writing off colleges that could be a good fit for you. [5] While you may not have pictured yourself in St. Louis, Washington University in St. Louis might offer what you need. Or, if you’re only looking at STEM schools on the east coast, you might miss out on applying to Caltech, which is a fantastic institution. Make sure you’re not geographically limiting yourself.
Choosing Safety Schools You Wouldn’t Want to Attend
Finally, take your safety school seriously. [3] Safety schools can still be good colleges. They should be chosen based on their ability to provide you with an education that supports your interests and goals. As with any school that you add to your list, you must ensure that you would actually attend the safety schools on your list if you’re admitted. While you should certainly have a top-choice school and be thrilled about the possibility of attending high-ranked colleges, it’s also important to stay realistic about your chances and not be disheartened once you receive your admissions results. Only apply to schools you would be glad to attend!
The college admissions landscape can be unpredictable. To make sure that you maximize your odds, and plan for an undergraduate experience that benefits your plans and interests, your list should consist of institutions that meet your needs. Avoid these seven mistakes and focus on making your school list align with your interests. If you prioritize college fit and show that you’ve done your research, you’ll set yourself up for success. Good luck!
How to Make a College List in 5 Steps
Once you know what to avoid, building the list itself becomes much simpler. Work through these steps during junior year so your list is ready before senior fall. [1]
- Define your priorities. Write down what matters most to you: academic programs, size, setting, distance from home, campus culture, and opportunities such as research or co-ops.
- Research widely. Start with a long list of 25 to 30 schools that fit your priorities, including national universities and liberal arts colleges you may not have considered.
- Sort by selectivity. Compare your grades, courses, and any test scores with each school’s admitted student ranges, then label each one a reach, target, or likely school. [3]
- Visit and connect. Tour campuses in person or virtually, attend information sessions, and talk with current students. Our guide on which colleges to tour can help you prioritize.
- Narrow and balance. Trim your list to the schools you would be glad to attend, with several in each category and at least two likely schools you would genuinely enjoy.
Revisit your list after junior-year grades arrive and again in the fall of senior year. A college list is a working document, and it should change as you learn more about the schools and about yourself.
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