Creating a College List

The summer before junior year is the perfect time to start thinking about college. As a student, you may feel like you have a lot of time to make your final decision but the timeline to apply moves faster than you think. One thing you should focus your energy on is creating your college list. Creating a college list is crucial, and a thoughtful approach is the best approach.  But don't worry, there are some great tools you can use to save time and target your efforts.  Before we get there, let's look at some of the things to consider when choosing  schools for your list. 

First and foremost, start by identifying your goals and priorities. What are the things that matter most to you when it comes to your college experience? Is it location, campus culture, program offerings, size, or something else entirely? Take the time to reflect on what you want out of your college experience and prioritize those factors accordingly.

Next, research different colleges and universities that fit your criteria. You can use online resources like CollegeBoard or Niche to get an overview of different colleges, including their acceptance rates, average test scores, and more. You can also check out college websites and social media pages to get a better sense of their campus culture and student life. Some colleges also offer virtual tours, which can give you a better sense of what life on campus is like.

It’s essential to be honest with yourself throughout this process. Don't just apply to schools because your friends or family members are applying there. Don't feel pressured to apply to prestigious universities if they don't align with your values and priorities. You'll be spending the next four years of your life at this school, so it's crucial to find one that aligns with your goals and values.

One of the most important things to consider is fit. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, approximately one in five students transfer during or after their first year of college. Many of these students cite a lack of fit with their initial college choice as a reason for transferring. Therefore, it's essential to take the time to find a college that fits you best. Fit can be challenging to define, but it encompasses many factors, including academic fit, social fit, and financial fit.

Academic fit involves finding a school with a curriculum that aligns with your academic goals and interests. Social fit involves finding a campus culture that resonates with you and allows you to thrive socially. Financial fit involves finding a school that fits within your budget and offers financial aid opportunities that match your needs. By considering all these factors, you can make an informed decision about which schools are the best fit for you.

Creating a college list is a daunting task, but there are resources available to help you. College counseling services are available at many high schools, and counselors can help you identify colleges that match your interests, skills, and values. Additionally, many online resources, like the College Board's Big Future, offer step-by-step guides to help you build your college list. Here are some awesome tools to help you search:

• College Board's Big Future (https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/) is a popular resource that offers a comprehensive college search tool that allows students to filter colleges based on factors like location, size, academic programs, and more.
• Niche (https://www.niche.com/colleges/search/) provides a user-friendly interface for searching colleges and includes student reviews and ratings.
• The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/) provides data on each college's graduation rates, median earnings of graduates, and other important metrics.
• The Princeton Review (https://www.princetonreview.com/college-search) offers a robust college search tool that includes personalized recommendations based on a student's academic interests and preferences.
• Another option is Cappex (https://www.cappex.com/), which provides a college search tool that allows students to filter colleges based on factors like majors, location, and test scores.
• The College Navigator (https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/) is another resource that provides detailed information about each college, including data on admissions, financial aid, and more. By using these resources, students can easily search for colleges that match their goals and priorities.

Ultimately, the goal of creating a college list is to find a school that fits you best. Take the time to reflect on what you want out of your college experience, research schools that align with your goals and values, and be honest with yourself throughout the process. With a little effort and research, you can create a college list that will set you up for success in college and beyond.

References

Cappex. (n.d.). College search. https://www.cappex.com/

College Board. (n.d.). Big future. https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/

College Navigator. (n.d.). National Center for Education Statistics. https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/

College Scorecard. (n.d.). U.S. Department of Education. https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/

Niche. (n.d.). College search. https://www.niche.com/colleges/search/

The Princeton Review. (n.d.). College search. https://www.princetonreview.com/college-search

Note: Since the websites listed in this article do not have specific publication dates, "n.d." (no date) is used instead of a year of publication.